Players like MS Dhoni and Neha Aggarwal are eyeing MBA degrees as a plan for life after sports
A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) seems to be the most preferred choice for sports professionals in the country. Sportspersons like former hockey midfielder Viren Rasquinha, cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rudra Pratap Singh, and Neha Aggarwal, the country’s top-ranked table tennis player, have taken the road back to school to take business management lessons.
Dhoni has enrolled at the St Xaviers College, Ranchi, for a Bachelor's Degree in commerce. He plans to enrol for an MBA after graduation. Father Nicholas Tete, principal, St Xaviers College, says: "We have given Dhoni the study material. He has been exempted from attending regular classes and appearing for the scheduled examinations.
Once he is prepared, he can come to the department and take the exam. The very fact that in spite of a busy schedule, Dhoni has taken up an academic course is commendable. The exemption is not exceptional."
Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra is an MBA from the University of Colorado. He is applying his managerial skills as the CEO of Abhinav Futuristics.
Rasquinha, who is taking a break from domestic and club tournaments to pursue an MBA degree at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad, says: "My parents always emphasised the importance of education. I always wanted to study and get a professional degree after graduation and ISB has given me this opportunity. It is hard for me to keep up with the rigours of the course. But I was aware of what I have signed up for. Life at ISB has been a tremendous learning experience for me. Besides, I have made some great friends on the campus, so it has been a fun experience as well," says Rasquinha about his stint at ISB.
RP Singh has enrolled for a three-year distance learning MBA course at the Amity International Business School, Lucknow.
Sportspersons are building a base for their lives post-retirement by taking up business education. Neha Aggarwal says: "A management degree offers the most promising job prospects in the country. Even as I actively pursue sports, I will study for my degree in business administration and plan to do an MBA after that. The objective is to secure a career in management after retirement."
Sportspersons-turned-MBAs are believed to be successful in business because of their ability to cope with pressure and strategic thinking.
An MBA is the best choice for sportspersons as they feel that the degree helps them mould their career after they retire from sports. “I wanted to learn new skills and interact with an experienced peer group and world-class faculty in order to learn business and corporate skills. The course will definitely shape my career because of its hands-on approach. It gives one a global perspective in addition to the Indian outlook. I am looking at options with regard to sports media, marketing and management. But I have my options open,” says Rasquinha.
