Why sports and P.E. are essential in shaping holistic, high-performing learners?

Across India, schools are increasingly recognizing that physical education is not just a “nice-to-have” - it’s essential. Sports and P.E. go far beyond improving health or encouraging participation; research consistently shows that sports play a pivotal role in developing leadership, enhancing social-emotional skills, and even boosting academic performance. With over 1.3 million children impacted across 2,800 schools, EduSports is at the forefront of this shift. This year, we're doubling down on our mission to support schools and parents in making structured P.E. a core part of every child's education.

Here are a few updates on how ‘play’ is playing a key role in nurturing well-rounded, future-ready students in schools across India.

India’s Largest Student Fitness Study: Key Findings from the 13th Annual Health Survey

Tracking fitness trends across government and private schools

The newly released 13th Annual Health Survey (AHS) by EduSports presents an important snapshot of student fitness levels across India. Key insights include:

• Comparison between private and government school students

• Gender-based analysis of fitness parameters

• Regional health trends

• The role of P.E. frequency in improving fitness

The data highlights both progress and gaps-underscoring the importance of structured P.E. in every school. Explore the full report.

Indian Kids Love to Play too – But are School Sports Keeping up?

Key findings from the ‘Get Kids To Play’ School Sports Survey

As part of our #GetKidsToPlay initiative, we surveyed over 1,800 parents and children to understand the current state of school sports in India.

Key Takeaways:

• Kids love to play-and school is the safest place to do so.

• Yet, P.E. as a subject and sport as a career still struggle for priority.

• There’s an urgent need for gender-inclusive programs, better standards, and clear athlete pathways.

Read the full “Get Kids To Play” report

EduSports Achievers Awards: Celebrating Excellence of Balance in Academics and Sports

At the final leg of the Get Kids to Play Summit in Bangalore, EduSports recognized over 100 students from 11 partner schools with the Achievers Awards for excelling in both academics and sports. School leaders were also honoured with the Changemaker Awards for championing sports and holistic development.

New Film “It Takes a Village to Create Champions” Launched

Our new film follows Dilip - a young student with world-class potential - on his journey of selfdiscovery. His story, though fictional, represents the real challenges faced by studentathletes across India. The film reflects that true champions aren’t born - they’re built. And that it takes a supportive ecosystem of educators, parents, and mentors to bring out their best.

PathwayZ36: Building India’s Future Olympians

Strategic talent development with a long-term vision

With Campus Activewear Ltd. as our first strategic partner, we launched PathwayZ36 - a national program focused on identifying and nurturing student-athletes from schools and communities across India. Launched on Feb 21, 2025, with Padma Shri Anju Bobby George as Chief Guest, the initiative already supports 20 promising athletes - laying the groundwork for India’s sporting success at the 2036 Olympics Games and beyond.

From the World of Education

Balancing Academics & Play: Lessons from Leaders

At a special event hosted by Plaeto, our CEO Saumil Majmudar joined Rahul Dravid and Shukla Bose to discuss the need for daily play. Rahul emphasized the importance of ensuring every child gets at least one hour of active play-even as we chase academic goals.

With urban spaces shrinking, schools must step in to provide children with safe, structured environments for physical growth.

#GetKidsToPlay Summit: Bangalore Edition

Bringing together changemakers to prioritize play

Held at IIM Bangalore on Feb 14, the latest Get Kids To Play Summit brought together educators, parents, CSR leaders, and policymakers to drive systemic change in how we view play in education.

The summit featured inspiring stories from student-athletes and culminated in the Playmaker Awards, honoring those championing play in schools.

New! Get Kids To Play Podcast Launch

Conversations that matter with leaders in sports and education

Our new podcast series kicks off with an inspiring episode featuring Swetha Subbiah, cofounder of Sisters in Sweat, alongside our hosts, Saumil Majmudar and Vijay Krishnamurthy.

Together, they explore what it takes to get more girls to play—and why inclusive sports spaces are critical for future generations.