J-K youth who won digital skills contest recalls challenges

He comes from a state where Internet bans and stone-pelting incidents have hogged headlines in the recent past.
But, against all odds, Prince Sumberia (21) of Jammu and Kashmir won an Asia-level digital skills competition in Singapore, edging out competitors from six other countries.
The 2nd year B.Tech student of a Jammu college was not even sure if he would be able to procure passport for visiting Singapore.
"A relative of mine went to Srinagar to get the passport at a time when stone-peltings were quite frequent. I was not very sure if I would be able to get it, until I actually got it," he told PTI.

Perhaps these challenges made him more determined as he overcame stiff competition from students from Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Bhutan and Vietnam in the finale on July 20.
"The situation in Jammu and Kashmir creates a lot of problems for us students. We don't know when the Internet will be banned, and when there will be a strike," he says.

The Asia Digital Skills Challenge, one of the biggest competitions of its kind on the continent, was organised by the non-profit International Computer Driving License Foundation and was open to students aged 18-25 years.
The competition was held in three tiers - college, national and Asia level. The students were tested on their core digital skills through tests including online collaboration, IT security and advanced spreadsheets.

Sumberia faced competition from his counterparts in various prominent institutes in the country before clinching the finale.
"We don't know when things will became stable, and so there is always uncertainty," Sumberia says.
Apart from Sumberia, Josuto Rudupra, a 2nd year B.Tech student from Nagaland, represented India at the competition.
Two finalists were chosen from each country for the grand finale which was a solo contest.