Summary - Helios International School, a premier CBSE school in Pune, highlights the integral role of physical activity and extracurriculars in a well-rounded education. By celebrating recent student achievements in sports such as Taekwondo, athletics, and skating, the blog illustrates how sports instil vital life skills like discipline, resilience, and teamwork. Supported by recent research and WHO guidelines, the school emphasises that physical health positively impacts cognitive performance and academic success, nurturing confident students who are prepared for life beyond exams.
What if we tell you that the lessons learned on a sports field are just as important as the ones learned in a classroom?
At Helios International School, a leading CBSE School in Pune, we have believed and said this for quite some time: education goes beyond textbooks, tests and report cards. It happens on the sports field, on the stage, through creative pursuits, in competitions and in every experience that encourages a child to explore, participate and challenge themselves.
And over the years, our students have given us countless reasons to believe in this philosophy. Here are just a few examples from the many achievements that make us proud.
From the Classroom to the Podium:
This year, our young athletes have demonstrated remarkable dedication across sporting disciplines.
Anay Bhosale (Grade 8C) won the Silver Medal in Taekwondo at the State-Level CBSE Interschool Sports Competition, taking him one step closer to the Nationals.
Saisha Gadre (Grade 7A) showcased exceptional speed by winning Bronze Medals in both the 100m and 200m events at the State-Level CBSE Interschool Sports Competition.
Our skaters also brought home an impressive set of achievements from the Marathon Skating State Championship 2026 in Baramati, Pune.
Gold Medal Winners:
- Harshika Karva | Class VII-D
- Kavya Shewale | Class VI-C
- Prathamesh Bhosale | Class V-D
Our Merit Achievers included:
- Mayuresh Bhosale | Class IV-C | 4th Place
- Mayank Khorate | Class VIII-A | 5th Place
- Baani Parmar | Class VI-C | 8th Place
And we celebrate participation just as much. Rishika Karva (Class II-C) received a Participation Trophy, a reminder that every achievement begins with the courage to participate.
But Does Sport Really Help With Studies?
Research increasingly suggests that the answer is yes! However, it is important to note that research generally shows an association and potential benefit, rather than proving that sports alone cause better grades.
A 2023 systematic review examining 19 studies involving 6,788 children found that physical activity was primarily associated with positive or non-significant academic outcomes. The review also found that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity did not harm academic performance and could support it.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis examining aerobic exercise in children also investigated its effects on executive function and academic performance, adding to the growing body of evidence connecting physical activity with cognitive development.
More recently, a 2025 meta-analysis of school-based physical activity reported positive effects on cognitive performance and academic outcomes among children and adolescents, supporting the idea of creating more active school environments.
There is another interesting finding. According to the U.S. CDC's analysis of the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, students reporting mostly A grades were more likely to have played on a sports team and to have been physically active for at least 60 minutes on all seven days of the previous week than students reporting mostly D/F grades. (The CDC also cautions that these findings show an association, not that sports directly cause higher grades.)
The 60-Minute Connection:
The World Health Organisation recommends that children and adolescents aged 5-17 accumulate an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day across the week. WHO identifies benefits extending beyond physical fitness to cognitive outcomes such as academic performance and executive function, as well as mental health and social development.
This is why sports at a CBSE school in Pune should not be viewed simply as a break from academics.
They are part of learning.
- A student training for a race learns discipline.
- A young skater learning a new move learns perseverance.
- A martial artist preparing for competition learns focus and resilience.
- A team member learns communication, responsibility and how to handle both victory and defeat.
At Helios International School, Every Achievement Counts:
At Helios International School, we want our students to discover what they are capable of-academically, creatively, physically and personally.
- Because success isn't always measured by a medal.
- Sometimes it is measured by showing up.
- Sometimes it is trying again after losing.
- Sometimes it is beating your own previous record.
- And sometimes, it is simply discovering a passion that stays with you for life.
Our students' achievements on the field are not separate from their education. They are a reflection of it.
At Helios, we continue to create opportunities for students to learn, compete, participate, explore and grow, inside and beyond the classroom.
Because a well-rounded education doesn't just prepare students for their next examination.
It prepares them for everything that comes after it.
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