India Raises the Bar at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi
India recorded its best ever performance at WorldSkills in Abu Dhabi 2017 finals with the highest ever tally of two medals (a silver and a bronze) and nine medallions of excellence.
Team India created history when winning One Silver, One Bronze and Nine Medallion of Excellence in various other categories at the 44th WorldSkills competition, Abu Dhabi. This is India’s best performance since it started participating at these competitions in 2007. The Indian team was competing with candidates from 59 other WorldSkills member countries.
Karishma Sunil Gupta from LTA School Beauty raised the performance bar for beauty skills by securing a Medallion for India in category, thus improving India’s world ranking to a never before position. By doing so , she has become a role model for many young aspiring beauty professional to showcase their talents at the highest level of skill competition. She came 6th of 29 competitors and scored above France, Switzerland, Singapore, Germany and Japan.
Expressing her joy Karishma Gupta said, “The four-day WorldSkills competition was incredible but my journey from being a common Indian to winning the Medallion of Excellence in Beauty and wellness sector has not been easy. In India even today, the beauty sector has not been extensively recognized. There are only a handful of people who want to make it as a career. There were people around me who were quite judgemental and sceptical about the career scope in this field for the long-run. Thankfully, such comments never demotivated me. Also, convincing my father at the early stages was difficult as he was a bit worried as to what scope lies in the field of beauty.”
“There were times when it was hard to cope-up with the training schedules. There were no weekends, no holidays, nothing. But nothing came in my path of becoming a proud Indian. The mere thought of holding the ‘Tiranga’ in another country was something that always kept me going on. Winning for our country is the most beautiful feeling in the world. The joy that one gets after doing something for one’s country is unexplainable. I would always dedicate a part of my success to my family, mentors and the entire LTA family who have always helped and encouraged me throughout this journey,” Karishma further added.
Mohit Dudeja won the silver for Patisserie and Confectionery, whereas Kiran bagged the bronze for Prototype Modelling. The nine ‘Medallions of Excellence were won for mechatronics, brick-laying, restaurant service, automobile technology, jewellery, graphic design technology, mobile robotics, beauty therapy and car painting.
Commenting on the results, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, “It has been an incredible and by far, the best performance by the Indian Team since we began participating in WorldSkills International Competition! This Diwali has really been special. It is an important day in the skills calendar for India and a big moment of pride for our country. My hearty congratulations to the Indian Team on their exceptional performance at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi and bringing laurels to the nation. Skills have the power to transform individual life, power to change society and power to change the world and we believe skills will make the New India of our dreams.”