Anna University Students Sweep Top Honours in South Zone First Round of 7th Print Olympiad 2026

The virtual first round of the South Zone for the 7th Edition of Print Olympiad 2026 – India’s premier and unparalleled talent hunt in printing and packaging technology – concluded triumphantly on Friday, 6 March 2026, via the Zoom platform. Organised by the Offset Printers Association (OPA), the event showcased the remarkable depth of young talent in the region and reinforced the strong industry-academia synergy that defines the competition. The programme commenced with Prof. Madhura Mahajan, Chief Coordinator (PVG’s COET&M, Pune), delivering the call to order and introducing the concept of Print Olympiad. She emphasised the competition’s role in identifying and nurturing future leaders in the printing sector.

Prof. Kamal Chopra, Project Chairman, extended a warm welcome and introduced OPA’s vision, stating: “Print Olympiad serves as a crucial platform to channel India’s demographic advantage into a skilled, future-ready workforce for the global print landscape, bridging academia and industry effectively.”

South Zone Coordinators – Dr. J.P. Nirmala (Anna University, Chennai), Dr. M. Nandhakumar (AGPC, Sivakasi), Dr. T. Murugesan (IPT, Chennai), and Mr. P. Murugapandian (NPC, Pollachi) – shared motivational remarks. Dr. J.P. Nirmala highlighted the growing excellence in South India’s printing education, while Dr. M. Nandhakumar encouraged participants to embrace innovation for industry advancement.

Guest of Honour Dr. B. Kumar (Professor & Head (Retd.), Dept. of Printing and Packaging Technology, CEGC, Anna University) inspired the young aspirants. He congratulated the students on their enthusiasm and urged them to pursue continuous learning in packaging technology, noting its vital role in sustainable development.

The distinguished panel of judges – Dr. K. Senthil Vadivu (Professor, Dept. of Ptg. & Pkg. Technology, CEGC), K.B.S. Shanmuga Sundaram (Senior Vice President Operations, Amnet ContentSource), G.N. Visvakumar (Managing Director, Rajams Digital Offset Prints, Chennai), G.K. Kalairajan (M.D., Mayuraa Pack, Chennai), and J. Jeetendra (The Print Specialist, Chennai) – provided expert evaluation. Dr. K. Senthil Vadivu commended the high quality of responses in the MCQ test, reflecting the strong foundation provided by institutions like Anna University.

Chief Guest Raghavan Sridharan, Managing Director, Spico Printing Inks P. Ltd., Chennai, delivered an inspiring address and formally declared the competition open. In his remarks, he praised the participants’ enthusiasm and stressed: “Continuous innovation in the printing industry is essential to meet evolving global demands and maintain India’s competitive edge in packaging and inks technology.”

Dr. TKS Lakshmi Priya, Technical Coordinator, conducted the attendance marking and clearly explained the rules and instructions for the online MCQ test. She appreciated the discipline and preparation shown by all participants. Following the competition, Mr. Ashwani Gupta offered concluding thoughts, lauding the high level of participation and the event’s success in engaging young minds.

The results were proudly announced by Prof. Kamal Chopra, who congratulated the toppers and reiterated the competition’s goal of identifying and rewarding India’s brightest printing minds. He said, after thorough deliberation, the jury selected the following four top students from the South Zone, all hailing from the esteemed Department of Printing and Packaging Technology, College of Engineering Guindy Campus (CEGC), Anna University, Chennai: Vibinran M, Steffi Mary A, Chinmayi K and Saranadithya D. These outstanding performers have qualified for the South Zone Finale, to be held on a physical platform at Anna University, Chennai, in the coming days

Advisor Anubhava Shiksharthi delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, coordinators, judges, and participants for contributing to a memorable event. Launched in 2014 by Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra, Print Olympiad continues to serve as a vital platform for nurturing talent in printing and packaging. The four zonal champions will compete in the national finale for the coveted title of “No. 1 Student of India,” along with a Certificate of Excellence and ₹1,00,000 cash prize. The grand finale will be held in October 2026 at the All in Print China exhibition in Shanghai, offering global exposure to India’s young print stars. The sweeping success of CEGC Anna University students in the South Zone round underscores the excellence of printing education in the region and OPA’s unwavering commitment to shaping the future leaders of India’s vibrant print and packaging industry.