Who Are the Rising Stars Representing India at the WorldSkills Competition 2026?

The 48th WorldSkills Competition is set to take place in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, featuring over 1,400 young talents from 70 countries. India will be represented by 13 exceptional competitors, including gold medalists from the IndiaSkills Competition. With rigorous training and a strong track record, these participants aim to excel and bring pride to their nation. Read on to learn more about their journey and aspirations as they prepare for this prestigious event.

By Ambika Singh Sep 21, 2026, 21:43 IST

WorldSkills Competition 2026 Set to Begin in Shanghai

Bhubaneswar: The 48th edition of the WorldSkills Competition is set to unfold from September 22 to 27 in Shanghai, China, specifically at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. This prestigious event will see over 1,400 young talents from 70 countries, including India, competing in 64 different skills and categories.

To qualify for this global competition, each participating nation conducted regional and national contests to identify their top candidates. In India, the best performers from the IndiaSkills Competition were selected to represent the country in Shanghai. Notably, Odisha excelled in the IndiaSkills Competition 2025–26 held in New Delhi, securing the highest medal count. From this pool, 13 outstanding competitors were chosen to join the Indian delegation for the WorldSkills event.

The selected 13 competitors include: Debasish Gouda and Prasad Kumar Das (Landscape Gardening), Priyanshu De (Web Technologies), Rasmita Kaur Hanspal (Hotel Reception), Debasish Panda and Aditya Prakash (Autonomous Mobile Robotics), Pitambara Rishikesh (Water Technology), Rajeev Lochan Chand (Graphic Design), Jagannath Mishra (Industrial Mechanics), Jhansirani Rout (Restaurant Service), Krishnanjali Sahoo (Patisserie and Confectionery), Parshuram Majhi (CNC Turning), and Sumit Bhujabal (Industrial Control). The Indian team has arrived in Shanghai via Bangkok from New Delhi, ready to showcase their skills starting September 21.

Among the 13 participants, Debasish Gouda and Prasad Kumar Das, both from the Government ITI in Berhampur, are representing India in the Landscape Gardening category. They earned their spots by winning gold medals at the IndiaSkills 2025–26 competition in New Delhi. Prior to their journey to Shanghai, they underwent extensive training in Ahmedabad and Noida under the guidance of experienced mentors.

In recognition of their achievements, participants who excelled in the OdishaSkills 2025–26 and IndiaSkills 2025–26 were honored with the Chief Minister’s Skill Award during a state-level ceremony coinciding with World Youth Skills Day. As in previous years, there is optimism that Odisha’s competitors will excel, achieve remarkable success, and bring honor to both the state and the nation at the WorldSkills Competition.