Three ‘Skilled in Odisha’ Youths Selected for WorldSkills International Competition 2019

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government’s focused approach on technical education and vocational training to make the State a leader in skill training in the country has gained major recognition as three ‘Skilled in Odisha’ youths have been selected to represent India at WorldSkills International Competition 2019 in Russia.

Xenophon Das, S Aswatha Narayana and Abinash Swain have been included in the 48-member contingent which will represent the country at the biggest showcase of skills excellence in the world.

This has been announced by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Tuesday.

More than 1,500 competitors from 60 countries will compete in 55 skill competitions at this mega event, which is scheduled in Kazan, Russia from 22nd to 27th August 2019.

India will participate in 44 skills including mobile robotics, prototype modelling, hairdressing, baking, confectionary & patisserie, welding, brick laying, car painting, floristry among others.

Xenophon Das will participate in the M-Cad event, S Aswatha Narayana will compete in the Water Technology event and Abinash Swain will take part in the CNC Turning event in the competition, also referred as the ‘Olympics for Skills’.

Congratulating the youths for their selection in the Indian contingent, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that his government’s concerted efforts fructifying and getting recognized.

Congratulate #SkilledInOdisha youths, Xenophon Das, S Aswatha Narayan & Abinash Swain for getting selected in Indian contingent for @WorldSkills competition 2019 in Russia. Happy to see our concerted efforts fructifying & getting recognised. All the best to the Indian contingent! pic.twitter.com/8MuvCwi43P

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 30, 2019

The Odisha CM also conveyed his best wishes to the Indian contingent.

The Odisha Government has formed Odisha Skilled Development Authority (OSDA) in 2016 in order to ensure quality skill training standards and sustained employability of trained youth in the State.

The agency led by Subroto Bagchi, co-founder of IT firm MindTree, guides, implements, coordinates and oversees all skill development programmes in the State with a goal to provide outstanding skilled workforce comparable to best in the world.

The agency’s skill development mission known as ‘Skilled in Odisha’ is fast emerging as a global brand.

Odisha occupied second position in the medals tally in the country’s biggest skills competition, India Skills 2018, in New Delhi. The State won total 19 medals including four gold, nine silver and six bronze at the competition.