Shanghai:Azerbaijan's cybersecurity team has won its first 'Medal of Excellence' at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 international skills competition.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, the event took place from September 22 to 27 in Shanghai, China. The Azerbaijani team, represented by Ali Maharramli and Yusif Kazimli from the Information Security Department of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, achieved a score of 702 points.

This accolade marks Azerbaijan's first award in cybersecurity at the WorldSkills competition. The team outperformed competitors from several countries, including India, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, and Brazil, particularly excelling in the cybersecurity subcategory of 'Implementation of Defense Solutions Against Cyber Threats.'

The selection process for candidates involved a Capture The Flag (CTF) format, with 80 participants competing in the initial stage on December 20, 2025. After the second stage in January 2026, 10 candidates were chosen for an intensive training program lasting from February to August.