Ma Hongda, a 22-year-old student, became the first Chinese person to win the plastering and drywall systems event in the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, which concluded recently in Bordeaux, France.

Born in 2000 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, Ma started learning construction and decoration at Zhejiang Construction Technician College in Hangzhou when he was 16.

"My father is a construction worker, and we both think it is a good idea to master a skill. That's why I chose this major," Ma said.

"In 2017, I applied to be a member of the college's special training team for WorldSkills competitions. More than 200 students applied, and only about 30 passed and stayed for the training after two rounds of fierce competition."

Ma showed his talent for the competition that year.

"He works wholeheartedly for a goal once it is set," said Xu Zhen, the primary coach for plastering and drywall system training at the college. "He is not only diligent but can also think and work flexibly and creatively during training. This is quintessential."

Xu thinks it's great that Ma thinks independently and discusses his own ideas with coaches, which is crucial to problem-solving.