Bhakti Shah, More Than Just An Athlete
Courtesy: Boise State Athletics
Bhakti Shah grew up in Hyderabad, India, the capital of the southern state of Telangana. As a child, she loved playing tennis and competed throughout India and internationally.
As a youth, she won three national junior tournaments: the TTC National Series in Trivandrum, the U16 singles championship, and the U18 singles and doubles championships. Shah was so successful as a junior that she earned the No. 1 ranking for U16s in India and represented her country at the national level, including the 2019 Junior Federation Cup at Nonthaburi, Thailand.
As Shah became more successful and grew, she considered playing collegiately in the United States. It was a significant step when she decided to follow through and choose a school, given the uncertainty and her lack of knowledge about what to expect.
"Initially, I didn't really know what to think when I thought about coming to America because, coming from India, the concept of competing athletically at your college is not something you can do back home. So, I didn't know what to expect once I arrived. But in the end, all my experiences have exceeded 1,000 times more than what I thought they would before I came to Boise."
The business administration major has worked hard to fit in and experience campus life throughout her four years at Boise State, both on and off the court. In addition to being a member of the Boise State women's tennis team, she has been a successful scholar and a member of a few campus organizations.
Academically, Shah has been a standout since she arrived on campus. This spring, she was recognized as one of the College of Business and Economics (COBE) Outstanding Graduates for 2025, one of a select few honored.
"It feels great to get this award," said Shah. "It also feels like all the effort and all the emphasis that the coaches have always put on us, with 'student' being the first part of student-athlete, and having us prioritize academics as well as our sport, has been worth it. Receiving an award like this is a testament to the work that I put into being a student and an athlete."
In addition to the COBE Outstanding Graduate Award, her academic work has been recognized numerous other times. She has been named to the Boise State University Dean's List six times, an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete three times, Academic All-Mountain West, and a three-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete for maintaining a 3.5 or better cumulative grade point average.
"It's been hard; you have to stay on top of things, build good relations with your professors, and make sure that they're aware of your schedules. I always ask questions, whether it's to a professor or a classmate. It has been important to ask for help, stay on top of things, and make sure I know the deadlines and am prepared for exams."
During her four years at Boise State, Shah relied heavily on the athletic department's academic staff to help her navigate college life and Boise State. From the time she arrived, Eric Kile, Boise State Athletics' academic advisor assigned to tennis, played an important role in Shah's assimilation into campus life and understanding what to expect academically.
"Eric is one of the best advisors you can ever ask for. I had no idea what to expect when transitioning from being an international student and coming to Boise State. I had no idea what credits were; it's percentage grade-based back home. Our GPAs in India are 10-point based; here, they are based on four-point GPAs. So even understanding all those things, how credits work, class schedules, and how you have to get a certain number of credits to graduate was so confusing. Just having Eric explain everything was a big help. He was always ready to meet if I needed him."
Her coaches work hard to meet the needs of their student-athletes and appreciate how responsible Shah is in communicating with them about what she needs off the court.
"Bhakti does such a good job communicating," said Boise State Head Coach Beck Roghaar. "She's so organized, and that makes it easy for us to know if she's got a heavy academic load or a test coming up. Bhakti is always on top of everything in advance and asks for help if needed. A lot of the time management skills that student-athletes have to learn, she brought with her when she came to Boise. She's always been proactive in her scheduling and looking ahead. So, she's made our job really easy."
In addition to help from the athletic department's academic and coaching staff, she has also appreciated her professors.
"I want to say that Boise has such nice people. All of the professors I've had have been so helpful. I could always ask them questions, and I appreciate that. I enjoyed my classes and have learned a lot here at Boise State."
In addition to academics, tennis has also played a significant part in her experience at Boise State. They are demanding, and both have been important and challenging.
"It has been really important to be organized and to manage my time well. I have given both my academics and tennis equal priorities. That is how I managed it. Tennis is important, but at the same time, I'm a student too, so academics are just as important."
For Roghaar and his staff, it has always been a part of the program's philosophy that academics are as vital as tennis.
"We go off the mentality that it is ‘student’ first," said Roghaar. "You know that a lot of these players that we have in the program now have aspirations to play tennis professionally and have the ability to do that. However, we also realize that a very small percentage of student-athletes truly fulfill that dream. It is important to us that when players leave our program, they are prepared academically for whatever steps are going to come next in life."
On the court, Shah has invested a significant amount of time in her tennis game and has shown improvement each year, primarily playing at the five and six positions in the singles lineup during her first two seasons. She has moved into the No. 3 singles position and plays doubles as a senior. Shah has played a vital role in the team's success in 2025, helping the Broncos win 19 matches, the Mountain West tournament championship last week, and advance to this Friday's NCAA Championship first round against Baylor.
"I have worked hard, and I'm smarter now. I know my body better, which helps me last longer in matches. I have learned and matured a lot since coming to Boise. I am more consistent when I play and not as much of a hothead. I understand the game better and know how to handle up-and-down situations. It's how I respond to those moments that matter; staying stable will get me through a lot of things.
"The coaches have helped me a lot. I always ask them what I can keep working on to improve and develop. I have focused a lot on my mental toughness this last year. The big difference from my first year to this year is how I look at tennis and how mentally prepared I feel compared to other players."
Roghaar and the staff have invested as much time as needed to assist Shah as a tennis player throughout her career. Her improvement on the court has been noticeable.
"Bhakti has developed a lot during her time here," Roghaar said. "She has phenomenal technique in so many ways, shapes and forms. But learning how to win, learning how to structure her game, and learning how to compete has been a big part of her development. She's an elite perfectionist and wants to do everything right and perfectly. That truly is not possible. So, her learning to manage and understand that has greatly impacted her results and development. I'm so proud of her because, in today's college athletics, it's very easy to think that things might be better or different somewhere else and enter the transfer portal without giving it a good try where they're at. Bhakti stayed and has worked hard to get to this moment."
In her spare time, Shah was actively involved in two student organizations on campus: the Indian Student Association and the Boise State Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
The ISA comprises 50-60 students from India. Shah has served in several capacities, including as the treasurer and assisting in organizing their fall festival.
"We always have this big Indian festival every year in the fall, around the same time as Diwali, a big festival back home. We have a lot of activities, dances, songs, and food. We even invite people from the campus and around Boise. It's not just for students, but for the whole Indian community in the area where we come together for that one evening. It's a lot of fun and allows us to connect with people. We celebrate it together."
Shah also represents the Boise State women’s tennis team on the student-athlete advisory council and participates regularly in its activities.
Shah will graduate with a business degree this spring, marking the end of one chapter in her life. She will also leave with many fond memories of her friends and the experiences she has had here at Boise.
"The tennis team is my family. I came in here with great seniors who shaped me and laid the foundations for me at Boise State. It's been an incredible journey with everyone. As a senior, I have been able to do the same for the new players; we're shaping Boise State and Boise State tennis with the same foundations. Boise State will always be my family."
For the Boise State coaching staff, it is always a moment of pride to see their student-athletes grow and reach that important milestone in life when they graduate.
"I'm extremely proud of Bhakti in all ways. Seeing her earn this degree and knowing that it's not an easy degree to earn. I'm so proud of her work in developing and building a future for herself through her experience here. I really feel she will go a long way in life."
So, what does graduating mean to Shah, and what is next?
"Graduation gives me a sense of pride, and it's surreal. It still takes me time to think that I'm actually going to graduate this spring. It's a big accomplishment for me, and I'm really proud of the work I've put in. I'm grateful for all the people who have helped me to be able to graduate from Boise State.
"As for what's next, Boise State has helped me find what I like within the business space and what I want to do. I am looking at jobs and applying for a few. I want to work in the United States for a year or two before returning to India."
But before it is all over, there is still one more adventure waiting for Shah. She and her tennis teammates are headed to Austin, Texas, to face the Baylor Bears in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis National Championship on Friday.