India unveiled the official mascot Peacko and the championship anthem for the BWF World Championships 2026 on July 18, marking the final 30-day countdown to badminton’s premier event. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, along with Badminton Association of India (BAI) President and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, launched the mascot and anthem at a ceremony in New Delhi. The 30th edition of the World Championships will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from August 17 to 23, 2026, returning to India after 17 years.
The Mascot Peacko: Design and Symbolism
Peacko, the official mascot of the BWF World Championships 2026, draws its inspiration from the Indian Peafowl, the national bird of India. The mascot’s design blends elements of Indian heritage, the identity of the host city New Delhi, and the sport of badminton. Peacko features a skirt inspired by the opening of a shuttlecock, connecting the bird’s natural plumage to the sport’s most recognisable equipment.
The peafowl holds a special resonance in New Delhi, where the bird is a common sight across the city’s parks, gardens, and monuments, including the lawns of India Gate. By choosing the national bird as the mascot, the organisers have rooted the tournament’s visual identity in a symbol that is both distinctly Indian and universally recognisable. Peacko will spearhead BAI’s nationwide fan engagement campaign in the lead-up to the championships, appearing across promotional materials and events designed to draw new audiences to the sport.
Championship Anthem: A Contemporary Touch
Alongside Peacko, the organisers launched the official championship anthem, a high-energy track inspired by the vibrancy of New Delhi and India’s contemporary street rap culture. The anthem brings together all 16 Indian shuttlers competing at the championships, marking the first time the entire home contingent has featured together on a single musical track.
The lineup includes two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion PV Sindhu, men’s singles star Lakshya Sen, and the celebrated men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The anthem is designed to capture the confidence, ambition, and excitement surrounding Indian badminton ahead of its biggest home event in nearly two decades. BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra said the anthem and mascot were created to connect with audiences across age groups and celebrate India’s passion for badminton.
India’s Badminton Journey: From 2009 to 2026
The BWF World Championships return to India after a gap of 17 years. The country first hosted the tournament in 2009 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, which was the 17th edition of the championships. That event marked India’s debut as a host of badminton’s flagship competition, with Saina Nehwal leading the home challenge.
The period between 2009 and 2026 has been transformative for Indian badminton. In 2019, PV Sindhu became the first Indian to win the World Championships gold medal, defeating Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the final at Basel, Switzerland. Sindhu has won a record five World Championships medals for India: one gold, two silver, and two bronze. She is the only Indian to become a world champion.
Beyond Sindhu, India’s medal tally at the World Championships has grown steadily. Prakash Padukone won India’s first ever medal, a bronze in men’s singles in 1983. Saina Nehwal added a silver in 2015 and a bronze in 2017. Kidambi Srikanth won silver in 2021, while Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy have also secured bronze medals. The men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won bronze in 2022 and again in 2025, reflecting the sport’s growing depth across all categories.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI), the governing body for the sport in the country, was formed in 1934 and is headquartered in New Delhi. It has been affiliated with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which was founded in 1934 as the International Badminton Federation. India’s rise as a badminton powerhouse has been driven by sustained investment in grassroots programmes, world-class coaching under figures like Pullela Gopichand, and the success of Indian players on the global stage.
India’s Squad and Medal Prospects
India will field a 10-member contingent across all five categories at the 2026 World Championships. PV Sindhu qualified as India’s host representative in women’s singles, joined by rising star Unnati Hooda, who at 17 years old has already won the Odisha Open and the Polish Open. In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen (2021 bronze medallist) and Ayush Shetty represent India.
The top-ranked Indian entry is the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who qualified fourth overall. The pair have won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Asian Games. In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela will compete alongside debutants Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam. The mixed doubles entries are Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, and Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde.
Four Indian shuttlers Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam will make their World Championships debut on home soil, underscoring the emergence of a new generation in Indian badminton.
| Category | Indian Players |
|---|---|
| Men’s Singles | Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty |
| Women’s Singles | PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda |
| Men’s Doubles | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan / MR Arjun |
| Women’s Doubles | Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, Simran Singhi / Kavipriya Selvam |
| Mixed Doubles | Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto, Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Shivani Gadde |
Venue and Preparations
The championships will be hosted at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium (also known as Indira Gandhi Arena) in the Indraprastha Estate area of New Delhi. The stadium is the largest indoor sports arena in India and one of the largest in Asia. Built in 1982 to host indoor events for the Asian Games, it was extensively renovated in 2010 at a cost of ₹240 crore ahead of the Commonwealth Games. The venue has a seating capacity of approximately 14,348 and is operated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The tournament is expected to feature more than 400 players from over 50 countries, competing across five disciplines: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Tickets for the event were priced between ₹499 and ₹5,500, with an early bird discount and six seating categories.
The organisers have addressed operational shortcomings that drew criticism during the India Open Super 750 held at the same venue earlier in 2026, when pigeon droppings, monkey intrusion, and cleanliness concerns were reported. Heavy-duty polyethylene bird netting has been installed beneath the roof, overhead gates have been sealed, a triple-door entry system has been created, and 24x7 security has been deployed. The stadium has also undergone renovation work including a new false ceiling, upgraded toilets, drainage improvements, and glare-free LED lighting. BAI called the India Open a test event that helped identify and resolve these issues ahead of the World Championships.
Key Takeaways
- The BWF World Championships 2026 will be the 30th edition of the tournament, held from August 17 to 23 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
- The official mascot Peacko is inspired by the Indian Peafowl, the national bird of India, and features a skirt modelled after a shuttlecock.
- The championships return to India after 17 years; the country first hosted in 2009 in Hyderabad.
- PV Sindhu is the only Indian to win a World Championships gold (2019 in Basel) and holds a record five medals for India.
- India will field a 10-member contingent across all five categories, including debutants Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam.
- The Badminton Association of India (BAI), founded in 1934, is the governing body for the sport in India, headquartered in New Delhi.
