Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday felicitated the Indian men’s and women’s lacrosse teams for their gold medal victories at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh. He urged them to continue working hard and aim to make history by qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Addressing the athletes, he emphasised that determination, exposure, and consistent effort are key to the growth of emerging sports like lacrosse. “Lacrosse is an upcoming sport for 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 for qualification for LA 2028,” Mandaviya said.
Sharing a video of the event on X, he wrote, “Felicitated our lacrosse teams for their commendable performance at the Asian Lacrosse Games 2026 in Riyadh. Under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi, 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 will continue to support athletes through initiatives such as Khelo India, while stressing that passion and perseverance remain essential.
India delivered a dominant performance at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this February, winning 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 team overcame Pakistan to clinch the title.
The Indian women’s lacrosse team entered international competition for the first time in 2024, followed by the men’s team in 2025, making their achievements even more remarkable.
A key highlight of India’s success was the diverse representation from across the country, with athletes hailing from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Asian Lacrosse Games, hosted by the Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Union, are part of broader efforts to build competitive opportunities in the region ahead of lacrosse’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
India’s upcoming key events include the 3rd Asian Lacrosse Games in Chengdu, China, in April, and the Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Australia this October. These tournaments will also serve as qualification events for LA 2028.
-IANS
