Five employees of Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) have won the Medallion for Excellence at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026. They accounted for five of the 20 Medallions for Excellence won by India. Mr. Deepu Mudigerepalya Srinivasa and Mr. Jayanth Kariyappa were honoured in Mechatronics, Mr. Pavan Bhadravati Suresha in Additive Manufacturing, and Mr. Abhishek Somanna Shignalli and Mr. Vinay Muttayya Hiremath in Robot Systems Integration. Two other TKM employees, Mr. Tejas B.S. and Mr. Praveen Yankappa Hunakunti, represented India in Auto Body Repair and Welding.
Often called the “Olympics of Skills,” the WorldSkills Competition brought together more than 1,400 young professionals from around 68 countries and regions, competing in 64 skills. The Medallion for Excellence is awarded to competitors who show world-class skills and score just below the medal positions.
“Five of our employees winning Medallions for Excellence in three categories on a global stage is a proud moment for Toyota Kirloskar Motor and for the nation,” said Mr. G. Shankara, Chief Strategy Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
Many of TKM’s winners have come through the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), set up in 2007. The institute offers a free three-year residential training programme for students from economically challenged backgrounds, mainly from rural Karnataka, and its alumni have regularly won honours at IndiaSkills and WorldSkills competitions. Beyond TTTI, TKM has trained more than 1,40,000 young people through partnerships with over 120 ITIs and more than 30 GTTCs, as well as its Toyota Technical Education Program and Toyota Kaushalya initiatives.
