Indian shooting champion Angad Bajwa is making a big change. He will now compete for Canada. He announced this switch on December 25.
Bajwa shared a photo on social media. It showed his new red shooting vest with the Canadian flag. “To new beginnings 🇨🇦,” he wrote in the caption.
This decision surprised many in the shooting world. Bajwa had tried to switch nationalities five years ago. It did not happen then. His last competition for India was the National Shooting Championships. He finished in fourth place in the skeet event.
A major reason for the switch is his family. They are settled in Canada. His father, Gurpal Singh Bajwa, runs a business there.
Who is Angad Bajwa?
Angad Bajwa has a strong record for India. He is a gold medalist. He won at the Asian Shooting Championships. He did this in both 2018 and 2019. This makes him the only Indian shooter to win this title two years in a row.
In 2018, he did something incredible. He shot a perfect 60 out of 60 targets in the finals. No one had done that before at that event.
He also won gold medals in World Cup events. In 2021, he won a mixed team gold in New Delhi with Ganemat Sekhon. He was also part of a team that won team gold with Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Gurjoat Singh Khangura.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) confirmed the move. They issued him a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This document allows him to switch countries.
NRAI secretary general Pawan Singh spoke about it. He said they received Bajwa’s application. He said they cannot stop a shooter from leaving. He called Bajwa’s departure a big loss for India. But he also said India has enough talent to cope with it.
Angad Bajwa’s career now starts a new chapter. He will wear the Canadian flag at international competitions.