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Indian Lacrosse Teams Felicitated After Asian Games Gold, Eye LA28 Olympics

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated India's men's and women's lacrosse teams for winning gold medals at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh. He encouraged the athletes to use this success as a springboard to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where lacrosse will be featured. The minister emphasized the government's support through initiatives like Khelo India while stressing the importance of athlete passion and perseverance. India's teams, which only began international competition in 2024 and 2025, delivered a commanding performance by defeating Iraq and Pakistan in their respective finals.

Key Points: India's Lacrosse Teams Honoured, Target LA 2028 Qualification

  • Teams won gold at Asian Lacrosse Games
  • Minister pushes for LA28 Olympics qualification
  • Government support via Khelo India highlighted
  • Key qualification events ahead in 2025
2 min read

Sports Min Mandaviya felicitates Indian teams for Asian Lacrosse Games gold, pushes for LA28 qualification

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitates Indian men's and women's lacrosse teams for Asian Games gold, urges focus on LA28 Olympic qualification.

"Lacrosse is an upcoming big sport for India... Now the focus should be on working harder... aiming for qualification at LA 2028. - Mansukh Mandaviya"

New Delhi, March 25

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 wins at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh. He encouraged them to keep working hard and aspire to make history by qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

He highlighted to the athletes that determination, exposure, and consistent effort are crucial for the development of emerging sports like lacrosse. "Lacrosse is an upcoming big 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 at LA 2028," Mandaviya said.

Sharing a video of the same 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 @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 mentioned that the government will keep supporting athletes via initiatives such as Khelo India, but emphasised that passion and perseverance are essential.

India delivered a commanding 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 team defeated Iraq in the men's final and Pakistan in the women's final.

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 impressive.

A key highlight of India's success was the diverse representation from various regions, with athletes hailing from states such as 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 act as qualification events for LA 2028.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who follows Olympic sports, this is a strategic move. Getting a foothold in a sport debuting at LA28 is smart. The government support via Khelo India is crucial. Hope they get the funding and foreign exposure tours they need. The win against Pakistan in the women's final must have been sweet!
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Priya S
So proud of our teams! 🥇 But I have a respectful criticism. The minister's speech and the X post immediately linked it to PM Modi's leadership. Can't achievements just be about the athletes' hard work sometimes? They are the ones sweating on the ground. The political branding is a bit too much.
V
Vikram M
Beating Iraq and Pakistan in the finals! That's some serious performance. Lacrosse needs more visibility in Indian schools and colleges now. If we can produce champions from states like Odisha and Assam in a new sport, imagine the potential. All the best for the Chengdu event next month!
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Rohit P
First time I'm hearing about Indian lacrosse teams, and they are already winning Asian gold? Wah! This is what happens when we look beyond just cricket and hockey. Hope DD Sports and other channels start broadcasting these matches. Need to see our teams in action.
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Karthik V
The key point is "consistent effort". We have a history of doing well once and then fading. The system needs to ensure these athletes get continuous support, not just felicitation after a win. The qualification path for LA28 is clear. Let's build a proper pipeline for this sport.

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