Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. For children, the benefits of sport extend far beyond physical fitness. A game of football, a session on the cricket field or an hour spent learning a new sport can build discipline, confidence, teamwork and resilience in ways that a classroom lesson alone cannot. As schools increasingly recognise the connection between physical activity and a child’s mental and emotional wellbeing, sports is becoming an integral part of the school experience rather than being treated simply as an after-school pursuit.
At The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, this philosophy is reflected in the way physical education is integrated into everyday school life. Physical education is a mandatory part of the curriculum, with 70 minutes dedicated to sports and physical activity every day. This structured time allows students to remain active as part of their regular school routine, reinforcing the idea that physical activity is an important component of a well-rounded education.
Students are encouraged to explore sports according to their interests and abilities, with opportunities to train in specific disciplines under professional coaches. The school offers a diverse sporting ecosystem that includes football, hockey, cricket, basketball, tennis, shooting, swimming and horse riding. Regular practice sessions allow students to pursue their interests at different levels, whether they are looking to compete or simply discover an activity they enjoy.
The school’s sporting infrastructure supports this breadth of participation. Students have access to dedicated football and hockey fields, cricket grounds with six cricket nets and a bowling machine, tennis and basketball courts, a 50-metre eight-lane swimming pool, an indoor 10-metre shooting range, a 3-km cross-country track, and equestrian facilities with a stable. The availability of specialised spaces allows students to experience different disciplines while providing those who choose to pursue a sport competitively with the environment required for regular training.
Swimming is approached both as a sport and as an essential life skill, giving students practical knowledge alongside an opportunity to develop sporting ability. Horse and pony riding is also introduced to HPS’s youngest family members, allowing children to experience the activity from an early age while developing balance, coordination and confidence.
The sporting programme also provides a pathway for students who wish to take their interests further. Those demonstrating an inclination towards a particular discipline can access specialised coaching and structured training. Their progression can begin at the House level and extend to inter-school competitions, followed by zonal and regional events and, where they qualify, national competitions. This creates a continuum in which students can participate simply for enjoyment, while those with a competitive interest have opportunities to develop their abilities progressively.
The emphasis on participation is also reflected in the school’s House system. Students are grouped into four Houses: Nagarjuna, Nalanda, Taxila and Vijayanagar, which compete across a range of sporting tournaments. Representing their House gives students an opportunity to experience competition while learning to work together, prepare consistently and handle both wins and losses.
The outcomes of this sporting ecosystem are also visible in the school’s competitive achievements. During the 2025–26 academic year, HPS students won 75 medals at the CISCE Zonal Meet in athletics, including 30 gold, 25 silver and 20 bronze medals. In swimming, students secured 48 medals at the CISCE Regional Championships, comprising 12 gold, 25 silver and 11 bronze medals, while 16 swimmers qualified for the Nationals. Six athletes also qualified for the CISCE Athletics Nationals. Students recorded strong performances in hockey, football, basketball and shooting at zonal and regional levels, demonstrating participation and competitive achievement across multiple disciplines.
For Dr. Skand Bali, Principal of The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, sports are an important part of creating a balanced school experience. The school’s approach is not limited to developing competitive athletes. It is about giving every student access to sport and allowing children with different interests and abilities to find an activity in which they can participate and grow.
This distinction is important because a school’s sporting culture cannot be measured only through medals and championships. Competitive achievements are an important outcome for students who choose that pathway, but the larger objective is to ensure that sport remains accessible to every child. A student who discovers a love for swimming, learns to work with a team on the football field, participates in an inter-House basketball match or develops confidence through horse riding is also gaining valuable experiences, irrespective of whether they eventually compete at the national level.
The emphasis on physical activity is particularly relevant at a time when children are spending increasing amounts of time with screens and digital devices. Regular opportunities for outdoor activity allow students to step away from screens, interact with peers and engage with their surroundings. It also creates space for children to develop interests beyond academics.
The sporting environment at HPS represents a broader understanding of education. A child learning to swim, a young student experiencing pony riding, an athlete preparing for a competition or a team training for an inter-House tournament is gaining experiences that contribute to their development beyond the classroom. These experiences encourage perseverance, collaboration and the ability to respond to challenges.
Ultimately, making sport a consistent part of school life is about giving children the space to move, compete, explore and enjoy being active. Through structured physical education, professional coaching, diverse sporting opportunities, dedicated infrastructure, specialised pathways and inter-House competitions, The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet continues to make sport an important part of the school experience. Its sporting philosophy extends beyond producing medal winners; it is about ensuring that every student has an opportunity to participate, discover an interest and develop through sport.