By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Delhi took a significant step towards hosting a major international sporting event with the unveiling of ‘Mayur’, the official mascot of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship 2026, at Hotel The Lalit on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled the mascot in the presence of Education & Sports Minister Ashish Sood, senior officials, representatives of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation, the Table Tennis Federation of India, players, coaches and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Sood described the unveiling as “more than the launch of a mascot,” calling it the beginning of a new vision for Delhi’s sporting future. He said the national capital is steadily progressing towards becoming India’s Sports Capital and, in the long term, a global sporting hub.
The Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship will be held at Tyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi, from July 27 to August 2, 2026, featuring top players from 25 Commonwealth nations. Sood said the tournament would place Delhi at the centre of the international sporting community and mark the beginning of a broader journey to host premier global sporting events.
Highlighting the Delhi Government’s sports roadmap, the minister said preparations are underway to position the city as a future host for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Championships and other international competitions. He added that the focus extends beyond organising events to creating a world-class sports ecosystem with advanced infrastructure, international-standard coaching, sports science and athlete support.
Sood also announced the development of five Centres of Excellence dedicated to disciplines including swimming, athletics, wrestling and table tennis. The facilities, he said, will serve as talent development hubs to prepare athletes capable of representing India at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Olympic Games and World Championships.
Describing ‘Mayur’ as a symbol of confidence, excellence, determination and India’s cultural heritage, Sood said the mascot embodies the spirit of sportsmanship while welcoming athletes from across the Commonwealth to Delhi.
The Delhi Government said the championship reflects its commitment to strengthening sports at both the national and international levels while advancing its vision of establishing the capital as a leading destination for world-class sporting events and athlete development.
