Surat, October 18: Hon’ble Sports Minister Nanubhai Vanavi unveiled tobu, the mascot of the Avadh 20th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships-2015, to be held between December 16 and 21, and also the logo at a function at the Science Centre here today.

The function was attended by a host of people from all walks of life, including the Mayor of Surat, Niranjan Zanzmera, Secretary of Youth, Culture and Sports Manish Bharadwaj and SAG Director General Sandip Pradhan. Among the other dignitaries present on the occasion were Dhanraj Choudhary, the Secretary-General of the Table Tennis Federation of India and ITTF’s Competition Manager, Ganeshan Neelakanta Iyer.

The minister, unveiling the mascot, spoke on tobu which exemplifies the famous the Gir Forest and its lions, the pride of both Gujarat and whole of the nation. Speaking on the occasion, Vanavi lauded the efforts of Gujarat sportspersons and gave blessings to the forthcoming Commonwealth championships both on behalf of chief minister Anandiben Patel and his own behalf.

Extending his good wishes and cooperation, the minister said that Surat and the officials who are organizing the event will do everything in their capacity to make the championships a great success. “Surat and its people will be remembered for ever after the championships,” he encouraged with his address to the audience.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Milind Torawane, assured both the minister and other dignitaries on the dais that his team of people were working hard to make the championships a memorable one. “The championships are a god-sent opportunity for us to showcase our talent in organizing an event of this type. It also provides us a chance to prove ourselves as good hosts.”

Mayor Niranjan Zanzmera said he was happy that the event has come to Surat. “I am really grateful that the event has been allotted to Surat. This is our best chance to prove ourselves and we will do everything possible to receive the guests and provide them with good hospitality.”

In all these efforts, there is an invisible hand of the state government and the help rendered by the other authorities, including those at Surat. When the idea of hosting the Commonwealth Championships at Surat was mooted, Hon’ble Chief Minister Anandiben Patel not only gave the go-ahead but even assured all-round help from her ministerial colleagues, including sanctioning the fund to conduct the meet.

This assurance of her, the unstinted support by the sports ministry officials and that of the local authorities had motivated us to prepare the ground initially.