‘It is absolutely unreal’: Meet MP student Kovid Ajay Gangrade who won silver at WorldSkills Shanghai; how he made it happen
For Kovid Ajay Gangrade, months of preparation came down to one moment in Shanghai – and the result was a silver medal for India.“It is absolutely unreal. Being here, winning the medal just makes all of the preparation and the work you put in make it all worth it,” Gangrade told ANI after winning silver in Digital Interactive Media Design at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai.Gangrade, a student of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai, finished second in the category. According to The Logical Indian, he scored 720 points, behind China’s Kaiwen Liu, who won gold with 739 points. Romania’s Bogdan Nimerenco won bronze with 707 points.The medal was part of India’s overall performance at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, where the country finished 10th, winning six silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence. The Press Information Bureau said India’s six silver medallists included Gangrade in Digital Interactive Media Design.
Kovid Ajay Gangrade’s silver was India’s first medal in Digital Interactive Media Design at WorldSkills.
A year of preparation
The achievement followed nearly a year of preparation, Gangrade said after returning to Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh.“I have been working hard for the last one year, and I received training and support from the Government of India. MSDE, NSDC and Media & Entertainment Skills Council left no stone unturned in providing training,” he said, according to an ANI report published after his return.Gangrade also credited the organisations involved in his preparation for providing facilities during the process.“They provided all the facilities, ensured comfortable travel, accommodation and security. It feels very good that after receiving so much support and finally getting a good result,” he said.The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Media & Entertainment Skills Council were involved in supporting his preparation.
‘A very proud feeling for me’
For Gangrade, the silver medal was not simply an individual achievement. Speaking about his performance after returning to Khandwa, he said: “I have won a silver medal for India in the Digital Interactive Media Design category. It is a very proud feeling for me that I have achieved something for my country.”His medal also contributed to India’s improved position at the competition. India finished 10th at Shanghai, moving up from 13th at WorldSkills Lyon 2024. The country’s Shanghai contingent was its largest ever, with 70 competitors participating across 63 skills, according to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
‘The more skills develop…’
Gangrade also spoke about what India’s result could mean for young people and employment.“The more skills develop, the more it directly reflects in employment. This is a very good sign because India’s youth will not only look for employment but can also create employment for themselves and for others,” he said, according to ANI.He said the recognition given to competitors could encourage more young people to participate in skills competitions in the future.“Those who will register for the next WorldSkills 2028 will also feel encouraged. They will see that if they win and reach this level, they too will receive recognition and the government will stand with them. We are not alone in this journey. That is what makes it even more meaningful,” Gangrade said, according to ANI.
Kovid Ajay Gangrade said a year of preparation made his WorldSkills silver “absolutely unreal”.
His Khandwa connection
Although Gangrade was born and brought up in Mumbai, he has a family connection with Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. According to ANI, his grandfather was from Khandwa, and Gangrade spent his childhood holidays there with his parents and extended family.“Khandwa is my grandfather’s city and the city of Kishore Kumar. I used to come here with my parents during every winter and summer vacation. Although I was born in Mumbai, Khandwa is my first home, all my memories are connected to this place,” he said, according to ANI. Gangrade said his friends referred to him as “Khandwa wala”, in reference to the city’s association with legendary singer Kishore Kumar, as per the report.
A first for the skill category
Gangrade’s silver also marked an important result for India in Digital Interactive Media Design. The Logical Indian reported that it was India’s first medal in the category.The Ministry of Textiles separately confirmed that Gangrade, a student of NIFT Mumbai, won silver in Digital Interactive Media Design. It described the category as one of the emerging skill areas represented at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.WorldSkills Shanghai brought together more than 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions. India’s performance included six silver medals across Bakery, Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design, Industrial Design Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, and Retail Sales.For Gangrade, the silver in Shanghai is the outcome of a year of preparation – and, in his own words, something that still feels “absolutely unreal”.
