The local delegation returned home with a gold, a silver and a bronze medal from the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, alongside 11 Medals for Excellence, marking Macau’s return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2017, according to a statement by the local government on Saturday.
The delegation was welcomed at the local airport yesterday, where Secretary for Economy and Finance Dora Ng Wai Han, representing the government, congratulated the competitors on their achievements at the international skills competition, which concluded in Shanghai on Saturday.
The event, often described as the “WorldSkills Olympics”, was held in China for the first time and brought together 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions, according to the statement. The local delegation competed in 22 skills categories, the highest number of events it had entered since first participating in 1983.
Wong Weng Kei won gold in Visual Merchandising, Chao Chi Hou secured silver in Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Carvalho Hoo Cloe earned bronze in Retail Sales, the statement said, adding that 11 other local competitors received Medals for Excellence. The results marked the delegation’s first gold medal since the 2017 competition and the first time it has won gold, silver and bronze medals at the same edition, the statement noted.
In her welcoming speech, Ng credited the competitors’ achievements to their sustained efforts, as well as guidance from expert teams and support from training institutions and families. She also thanked the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM), the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) and the Macau Science and Technology Promotion Association (MAPST) for supporting skills development.
Ng said the competitors had demonstrated craftsmanship through their attention to detail, commitment to quality and pursuit of excellence on the international stage. She also encouraged them to tell other young people about their experiences. “The government will continue to improve vocational education and skills training for young people, promote alignment between international competition standards, vocational training curricula and workplace requirements, and provide young people with diverse development pathways,” she said.
Ng also said that the government would continue improving vocational education and skills training, aligning international competition standards with training curricula and workplace requirements to expand career pathways for young people. The initiative would support the government’s “1+4” appropriate economic diversification strategy and the development of skilled talent, she said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai also sent a congratulatory letter to the delegation, praising the competitors for demonstrating the spirit of craftsmanship through their pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement, the statement said. Sam said the results reflected not only the competitors’ individual efforts but also the collective work of the government and different sectors in promoting vocational skills education and strengthening industry-education integration, the statement noted, adding that the government would further improve its skilled-talent development system, expand young people’s development pathways and increase resources for vocational and technical education, with the aim of cultivating more highly skilled workers equipped with innovation and practical capabilities.
Speaking to the media yesterday, DSAL Director Chan Un Tong said the results demonstrated that Macau’s young competitors possessed skills that met international standards, adding that the bureau would strengthen cooperation with educational institutions and other stakeholders to expand opportunities for young people to receive vocational training.
Chan said the competition required substantial commitment from participants, who generally had to be under 22 and could enter only one skills category per edition. Before reaching the international stage, competitors had to become the top representative in their respective skills in Macau and complete between 300 and 600 hours of training. He noted that the 24-member delegation had successfully completed the demanding preparation while balancing their studies and training.
“The 24 competitors from Macau successfully completed their training and demonstrated the talent of Macau’s young people on the world stage. I believe society should recognise their achievements and have greater confidence in the development of our young people,” Chan said.
Moreover, gold medallist Wong Weng Kei said the year-long preparation involved intensive practice with support from a professional team and dedicated training facilities. Wong said that the preparation helped build confidence before competing in Shanghai, where competitors had to adapt to unfamiliar conditions and materials.
“The competition had many difficulties. First, the venue might have different walls or flooring, and the setting might not be the same as the one used for training. We had to familiarise ourselves with the venue on the day of the competition,” Wong said.
Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Director Chan Un Tong (up) and gold medallist Wong Weng Kei speak to the media at the local airport after returning from the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai yesterday. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
