Mandaviya felicitates Indian lacrosse teams after Asian Games gold

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday felicitated the Indian men’s and women’s lacrosse teams for their gold medal-winning performances at the Asian Lacrosse Games 2026 in Riyadh.

During the ceremony, he urged the athletes to continue working hard and aim to script history by qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

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Addressing the players, Mandaviya emphasised that determination, exposure, and consistent effort are key to the growth of emerging sports like lacrosse in India.

“Lacrosse is an emerging sport in India. This was your first major international exposure, and you have already brought home medals. Now the focus should be on working harder, gaining more exposure, and making the country proud by aiming to qualify for LA 2028,” Mandaviya said.

Sharing a video of the felicitation ceremony on social media, he wrote, “Felicitated our lacrosse teams for their commendable performance at the Asian Lacrosse Games 2026 in Riyadh. Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji, Bharat’s steady rise in emerging sports is a matter of immense pride, reflecting the expanding depth and strength of our sporting ecosystem.”

Mandaviya added that the government would continue supporting athletes through initiatives such as Khelo India, while stressing that passion and perseverance remain crucial for sustained success.

India produced a commanding display at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh earlier this February, clinching gold medals in both the men’s and women’s Sixes events. The Indian men’s team defeated Iraq in the final, while the women’s side overcame Pakistan to secure the title.

The achievement is particularly significant as the Indian women’s lacrosse team made its international debut only in 2024, followed by the men’s team in 2025.

India’s success also reflects the sport’s growing reach across the country, with athletes representing several states, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

The Asian Lacrosse Games, organised by the Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Union, are part of a broader push to strengthen competitive opportunities in the region ahead of lacrosse’s inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Looking ahead, India will next compete at the 3rd Asian Lacrosse Games in Chengdu, China, in April, followed by the Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Australia this October. Both tournaments will serve as key qualification pathways for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.