Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday, 18 July 2026, to launch the official theme song and mascot 'Peacko' for the BWF World Championships 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi.

Context

The launch event marked a significant milestone in India's preparations to host the Badminton World Federation's flagship tournament. The mascot 'Peacko' — a name that evokes the national bird, the peacock — is intended to give the championship a distinctly Indian identity on the global stage. Chief Minister Sarma noted that the tournament 'will bring together the world's best badminton players who will vie to be World Champions.'

The BWF World Championships is the sport's premier individual-event tournament, drawing elite shuttlers from across the globe to compete across men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles categories.

Policy Backdrop

India's bid to host marquee international badminton events is part of a longer strategic arc. The central government's Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, has invested in grassroots badminton infrastructure and talent identification. India previously hosted the BWF World Junior Championships in 2015 in Gwalior, signalling early ambitions to stage top-tier global events.

Successive governments have positioned the hosting of major sporting tournaments as a tool for soft power, infrastructure upgrades, and youth development. New Delhi, with its existing multi-sport facilities, is a natural choice for an event of this scale and visibility.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian badminton's rising competitive profile — built on the achievements of players across the country — adds domestic relevance to the hosting decision. A home World Championships is expected to generate significant interest among young players and fans alike, potentially boosting participation and viewership numbers.

The sports tourism sector stands to benefit as international athletes, officials, and spectators descend on New Delhi for the event. Hospitality, logistics, and ancillary services are all expected to see increased activity in the lead-up to and during the championships.

The involvement of Union Minister Mandaviya signals strong central government backing, while Chief Minister Sarma's presence underlines political support from the North-East — a region with a growing badminton culture — for India's global sporting ambitions.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to venue finalisation, infrastructure upgrades, and the rollout of ticketing and athlete participation frameworks for the BWF World Championships 2026. The theme song and mascot launch typically precedes a broader public engagement campaign to build awareness and excitement ahead of the event.

With the championships still months away, the coming weeks are likely to see further announcements on scheduling, draw ceremonies, and promotional activities — all of which will test India's organisational readiness to deliver a world-class badminton spectacle in New Delhi.