India, July 15 -- With less than two weeks to go for the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, the Delhi government on Tuesday unveiled 'Mayur', the tournament's official mascot, projecting the national capital as an emerging global sporting destination ahead of the seven-day international event beginning July 27. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the mascot and the official championship trailer at an event held at The Lalit, New Delhi. Inspired by India's national bird, the peacock, the mascot symbolises energy, enthusiasm and positivity, while its feathers incorporate the national flags of all participating countries. Highlighting the significance of the mascot, Gupta said, "Mayur is inspired by India's national bird and embodies energy, enthusiasm, vibrancy and positivity. The peacock's feathers beautifully incorporate the national flags of all participating countries, reflecting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the universal message of sportsmanship." Also Read - At least 2 dead in fire at Noida building, cops say spark started from charging EV The championship will be held at Thyagaraj Stadium from July 27 to August 2 with top paddlers from more than 25 Commonwealth countries, including England, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Nigeria, New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia, competing for honours. The finals are scheduled for August 2. Expressing confidence in Delhi's ability to host international events, the Chief Minister said the tournament reflects the city's modern sports infrastructure and organisational capabilities. She added that the government is committed to providing world-class facilities and greater international exposure to young athletes while positioning Delhi as India's leading sporting capital. Also Read - MCD rolls out EduLife 2.0 for schools Education and Sports Minister Ashish Sood said the unveiling of the mascot represents a broader vision for sports in the city. "The unveiling of the official mascot 'Mayur' is not merely the launch of a mascot, but the unveiling of a new vision for Delhi's sporting future," he said. Sood added, "Our goal is not merely to organise sporting competitions but to build a strong, world-class sporting ecosystem." He announced that the Delhi government is developing five Centres of Excellence in disciplines including swimming, athletics, wrestling and table tennis to nurture future champions. The government said it is preparing Delhi to host more international sporting events in the coming years while creating world-class infrastructure and training facilities for athletes.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.