I am very thankful for providing me this opportunity and it is with sincere sense of gratification that I pen down my brief statement of purpose before you. I am Sphoorti Sangamesh Biradar, 21 years old. I am studying B. Computer Science engineering final year in the reputed university Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) at college Sir. M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology. I have always believed in the credo “Destiny awaits those who dare to dream”. It is to this belief that I attribute all my accomplishments till date and my passion to study further.
Pursuit of excellence and knowledge has always been my burning desire and the propelling force behind all my achievements. My decision to pursue graduate study blends harmoniously with my eventual objective of taking up a management career in the sports industry. Education: I would like to present my past performances as my credentials for success in future endeavors. My academic performance was good and this acted as a booster that helped me look at the future with confidence & excitement. My schooling provided me with the much needed encouragement to grow as an all-rounder having a dynamic and committed approach in life.
I learned that just having interest is not sufficient & that it needs to be supplemented with hard work & determination to succeed. I scored 92% in my 10th grade, which left me with a predilection for academics. Then came the phase of pre-university examination (10+2) in which i secured 89%. Being brought up two intellectual engineers, my father who did his bachelors in Electronics and Communications and my mother who possesses a master’s degree in Computer Graphics, pushed me positively ahead to take up a bachelors degree in Computer Science. It was only a big step ahead when I got a seat at Sir. M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, which is ranked #1 among the engineering colleges in the Karnataka State by the reputed magazine “Dataquest”. The emphasis at our college is on having a thorough knowledge of fundamental principles & studying a wide spectrum of courses ranging from essential features of subjects to the core topics. They drive students to involve in plenty of extra-curricular activities. This gave me the opportunity to participate in college-level and university-level tennis tournaments, and to eventually win them. My under graduation studies has provided me with a strong and comprehensive background in computer science.
Exposure to core computer science subjects for four years has given me a strong base in life and provided me with commendable groundwork to realize where my passion lies and what course to go for as my higher study. WHY SPORTS MANAGEMENT? Having had a strong background in tennis for 14 years and simultaneously managing academics to compete with the rest of my fellow classmates, I am particularly interested in sports management because it is a course on completion of which I believe I can deliver my intellectual and managerial knowledge while I hold in me an understanding of the essence of competing in the sports world.
For someone like me, who has the heart to feel & a mind to understand the depth and intensity involved in today’s sports, which is highly diverse as well as expanding by leaps and bounds cannot resist herself from choosing a career in this field. I remember, playing tournaments such as The Orange Bowl and Eddie Herr in Florida state, when certain things caught my attention on how better the organizers could manage the event in terms of sponsors, marketing, scheduling of matches, supply of sources like tennis balls and water for players, so on.
That was when I felt, if I can find drawbacks in something, I can as well fix them. Mahatma Gandhiji said “Be the change you want to see in this world”, I strongly believe in his words and by choosing a career in sports management I will gain an opportunity to work in the sports industry where I can reach out to players and multi-national sports brands and sponsors to make the difference in the way any sports event is carried out. Out of my own volition I have chosen sports management, which offers ample scope for management activities and these parallel with my aspiration of a M. S degree. With the advancement in technology, gaining profound knowledge about computer science will prove to be an advantage for me as I will be capable of understanding and knowing how to deal with the implications and pace myself with the advancements of technology each day. My sports background: Sports, I can say runs in my blood. In particular, tennis has been my passion since I was 8 years old. When I held my first Head tennis racquet at Nike-Bhupathi Tennis Academy in Bangalore, I was excited like never before to take it up as a serious sport.
At a young age of 8, to have Krishna Bhupathi, a world-class champion and father of Mahesh. Bhupathi, as my coach was a blessing, granted to me by my father. Mr. Krishna Bhupathi, saw that I had a hidden talent in me and was meant to be here, training under him. At 10, I started competing under the All India Tennis Association under-12 category. It was my first tennis tournament and I made it through to the finals to my parent’s astonishment, gave a tough fight in the finals to my fellow competitor losing gracefully.
Involving in rigorous training each day, I had to soon learn how to balance my academics alongside intense tennis practice. Since grade 1, my desire to excel in academics was so much that I continued to hold my spot in the top 5 ranks of my class. My school teachers always encouraged me and allowed me to compensate for the classes I missed later on, as I’d travel and participate in various tournaments all over India. Importantly, my parents were my support pillars as they travelled with me to numerous and remote places in India so that I achieve a high rank in the under-14 and under-16 age category.
Earning points by winning few tournaments, and making it to the finals of higher grade tournaments, I soon made it to the 22nd rank in the All India under-14 category, which was a great achievement for me at just 12. An important highlight was when I won the Champion series under-14 and under-16 title both at 14. This achievement took me to the next big step which was captaining my state team under-16 category, at the 50th national school games held in Pune, where we bagged the silver medal for Karnataka.
That is when my father realized he had to take me to the world’s best tennis academy, Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG in Florida. Legends are born in this academy, like Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Sabine Lisicki, to name a few. Training under world-class tennis and fitness coaches gave me inspiring exposure to what it takes to become world’s top tennis player. The best memory that I have from my training is meeting Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, and Justine Henin, at the Sony Ericsson Master’s Tennis tournament.
It was an tremendous inspiration to witness them sweat it out right in front of me. Interacting with them during their practice was merely a dream come true to this day. Extra-curricular activities and achievements: In academics I have put my best efforts & secured 75% till my third year of B. computer science engineering. Actively participated in seminar and lab work, successfully completed two mini projects, one in Computer Graphics and another is Database Management System, would take up final semester project in February.
After completion of second year, I interned at CapGemini under the Cloud Computing team for a month, where I gained insight on the newest Cloud technology using VMware. Captained my college tennis team and won the inter-collegiate tennis tournament in 2009, and represented my university (VTU) at the All India University Tennis tournament in 2011. Received the best player award at a university-level tennis tournament held in MIT, Pune.
Gained experience as one of the event managers for the 50th Athletic Sports Meet for technological institutions, held at our college. Won the first prize for my seminar on “The future of ITES employees in India” at Presidency college fest. WHY AT YOUR UNIVERSITY? I am very keen on pursuing a Master degree in sports management. I want to pursue advanced training in this field of my passion. I am looking for a graduate school that will encourage me to give my best recognizing my passion for sports.
After thorough inspection and contemplation of the graduate program offered by many prominent institutions, I had no second thoughts in choosing your university after learning about your dedicated faculty combined with the world class facilities, pleasant University ambience and a balanced academic program are the factors which have motivated me to apply to your university where I will be able to enhance my knowledge with the opportunity of gaining exposure to the latest developments taking place and am sure it would help me to mould my career in a great way.
In conclusion, I would like to add that the essence of University education lies in the synergetic relationship between the student and his department. I feel that graduate study at your University will be the most logical extension of my academic pursuits and a major step towards achieving my objectives. I would be grateful to you if I’m accorded the opportunity to pursue my graduate studies with possible financial assistance at your institution.
Given, the opportunity I would sincerely work with dedication and give my best to make substantial contribution to my field of work and live up to high standards of your graduate program. I look forward to the discovery and challenge of my chosen career and a mutually beneficial association. I thank you immensely for considering my application.
