New Delhi, 14 July (H.S.):

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday unveiled 'Mayur' as the official mascot of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship. She said the championship will be held at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi from July 27 to August 2, where the finest players from 25 Commonwealth nations will showcase their talent.

The unveiling ceremony, held at The Lalit Hotel in Delhi, was attended by Delhi Sports Minister Ashish Sood, Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation President Vivek Kohli, Additional Director of the Education Department Nitin Jindal, office-bearers of the Table Tennis Federation of India, players, and coaches.

Sports Minister Ashish Sood said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the Delhi government is committed to taking sports to new heights. He said the unveiling of 'Mayur' was not merely the launch of the official mascot of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship but also symbolised the unveiling of a new vision for Delhi's sporting future. He added that Delhi is not only the capital of India but is also progressing towards establishing itself as the country's 'Sports Capital' and a future global sporting hub.

Sood said that the prestigious championship, to be held at Thyagaraj Stadium from July 27 to August 2, will feature the best players from 25 Commonwealth countries. During the event, the attention of sports enthusiasts and the international sporting community from across the world will be focused on Delhi. He said the championship is not the final destination for the city but the beginning of a much larger journey.

The Sports Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi government is preparing the national capital to host future Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Championships, and other major international sporting events. He said the government's objective is not merely to organise sporting competitions but to build a robust, world-class sports ecosystem.

He said the Delhi government is creating an environment where any child aspiring to become an athlete will have access to world-class sports infrastructure, international-standard coaching, sports science, and advanced training facilities. He added that the government aims to ensure athletes receive every possible support needed to fulfil their sporting ambitions.

Ashish Sood announced that the Delhi government will establish five Centres of Excellence to promote sports, covering disciplines such as swimming, athletics, wrestling, and table tennis. He said these Centres of Excellence would not merely function as training facilities but would serve as a strong sports development pipeline for nurturing Delhi's future sporting talent. He added that while Delhi is hosting the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship today, these centres will prepare athletes who will one day represent India with distinction at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, the Olympic Games, and World Championships, bringing glory to the national flag.

Sood said that hosting world-class sporting events and producing world-class athletes form the two pillars of the Delhi government's strategy. The government's goal, he said, is not merely to win medals but to develop champions who inspire future generations. He added that the championship's official mascot, 'Mayur', is not merely a symbol but represents confidence, excellence, determination, sportsmanship, and Indian culture. In Indian tradition, the peacock symbolises pride, energy, and beauty. The mascot will welcome players arriving in Delhi from across the world while conveying to young people that Indian values and global excellence can progress together.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar