Team India Wins 6 Silver Medals at WorldSkills 2026

The Tricolour rose high in Shanghai as India’s young skilled professionals delivered a memorable performance at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, bringing home six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence and securing 10th position globally.

The 48th WorldSkills Competition, held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026, brought together young professionals from across the world to compete in a wide range of technical, vocational, creative and emerging skills. India participated with its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors across 63 skill categories.

Team India Makes Its Mark on the Global Stage

For India, WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 was more than a competition. It was a celebration of talent, determination, innovation and the growing capabilities of the country’s young workforce.

The Indian contingent competed across diverse fields, ranging from advanced manufacturing, engineering and digital technologies to creative industries, hospitality, logistics and specialised services.

India’s six Silver Medals were won by:

• Smriti Nambiar – Bakery
• Mohammed Salam – Dental Prosthetics
• Kovid Ajay Gangrade – Digital Interactive Media Design
• Parth Vohra – Industrial Design Technology
• Mehrunissa Begum – Logistics and Freight Forwarding
• Saniya Joshi – Retail Sales

Smriti Nambiar, who won Silver in Bakery, was also recognised as India’s Best of Nation competitor.

Alongside the six Silver Medals, Indian competitors secured 20 Medals for Excellence, recognising high levels of professional performance across a wide range of skills.

From Traditional Skills to Future Technologies

One of the defining features of India’s participation in Shanghai was the breadth of its skills ecosystem.

India made its debut in 11 new skill categories, including areas such as Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design, Intelligent Security Technology, Optoelectronic Technology, Retail Sales, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Software Testing, Heavy Vehicle Technology and Aircraft Maintenance.

The participation demonstrated how India’s skills landscape is expanding beyond traditional trades to include emerging technologies, advanced industrial capabilities, specialised services and creative professions.

A Journey of Continuous Progress

India’s performance in Shanghai also reflects a longer journey of progress at WorldSkills competitions.

After finishing 39th at WorldSkills London in 2011, India improved to 33rd in Leipzig in 2013, 29th in São Paulo in 2015 and 19th in Abu Dhabi in 2017.

At Kazan in 2019, India finished 13th and won its first Gold Medal at the WorldSkills Competition. India again finished 13th at Lyon 2024.

At Shanghai 2026, India moved into the global top 10, finishing 10th with six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence.

Women Demonstrate India's Expanding Skills Landscape

WorldSkills Shanghai also highlighted the participation of young Indian women across technical, creative and service-oriented occupations.

Fourteen women were part of India’s 70-member competitor contingent, participating in areas including chemical laboratory technology, logistics and freight forwarding, fashion technology, hospitality, beauty and bakery, among others.

Their participation reflects the increasingly diverse pathways available to young Indians pursuing technical and vocational careers.

More Than Medals

The significance of WorldSkills goes beyond the medal tally.

For Team India, the Shanghai experience provided an opportunity to compete against international talent, work against global occupational standards, learn from experts and experience new technologies and practices.

The competition brought together nearly 1,400 competitors from more than 65 countries and regions, creating a global platform for young professionals to demonstrate what skilled talent can achieve.

Every competitor who stepped onto the competition floor carried more than personal ambition. They carried the hopes of families, trainers, institutions, industries and millions of young Indians who aspire to build their future through skills.

The Future Belongs to Skilled Talent

The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 journey sends a powerful message: India’s young talent is increasingly prepared to compete on international platforms across both established and emerging occupations.

From bakery and retail to digital design, dental prosthetics, logistics and industrial technology, Indian competitors demonstrated the diversity of skills that are shaping the workforce of tomorrow.

The world watched. India cheered. Team India inspired.

Six Silver Medals. Twenty Medals for Excellence. A top-10 finish.

But perhaps the biggest achievement is the inspiration created for the next generation of young Indians.

Tricolour Up. Dreams Bigger. India Showed Up.

And the journey of India’s skilled youth continues.

Keep shining, champions. The future of skills is brighter than ever.

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