Actor Angad Bedi, who was recently seen in Lust Stories 2, has made the extraordinary decision to pursue a professional sprinting career in parallel, aiming to represent India in the 400m race at two international events — Asia Masters Athletics Championships in November 2023 in the Philippines, and World Masters Athletics in Sweden. Angad, who will next be seen in R Balki’s sports drama Ghoomer, has set his sights on taking the sport to new heights after winning a silver medal in his first 400m sprinting tournament.
LONG-STANDING PASSION
Angad has had a strong inter- est in sports since childhood. “I’ve tried swimming, table tennis, gymnastics, and cricket, among other sports. Cricket eventually piqued my interest. I used to train for cricket. I’m extremely inspired by athletes all over the world, and I feel like they’re the true heroes. It’s good in my own little capacity to try and walk in their shoes,” says Angad, son of a former Indian cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi. “I enjoy sports because it forces me to think on my feet. It keeps me physically alert and helps me as an actor. I'm a dedicated actor who also enjoys sports. I feel grateful if I can stay involved in sports in any way. Not only do I want to help other athletes, but I also want to express myself, whether in front of the camera or on the track,” he adds.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
The actor has been putting in long hours of practice with his coach, Brinston Miranda who put him through a year of training before entering him in a competition. Angad said Brinston, who had also trained his wife Neha, had altered his training regimen and diet, and helped him bring his weight down from 94 kg to 79. “I’d like to improve my timing as much as possible and compete in the 200m, but that will necessitate a completely different training regimen,” shares Angad. Saying he was excited to discover a part of his personality outside of cinema, he also revealed that he was trying to overcome some niggling injuries with the help of his physiotherapist Parachi Shah. Explaining that a lot goes into training, Angad says, “The breakdowns, physiotherapy sessions, muscle tears, and recovery sessions all contribute to getting mentally, physically and emotionally prepared for a big tournament.
