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Indian Lacrosse Teams Felicitated, Aim for LA 2028 Olympics After Asian Gold

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated India's men's and women's lacrosse teams for winning gold at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh. He urged the athletes to aim for historic qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where lacrosse will debut. The teams, which made their international debuts very recently, delivered a dominant performance, defeating opponents like Iraq and Pakistan. India's next steps include the Asian Games in China and a crucial qualifying event in Australia for the 2028 Olympics.

Key Points: India's Lacrosse Teams Aim for 2028 Olympics After Asian Games Gold

  • Teams felicitated after Asian Lacrosse Games gold
  • Minister urges focus on LA 2028 Olympics
  • Sport set for Olympic debut in 2028
  • Government support via Khelo India
  • Next major events in China and Australia
2 min read

Sports Minister urges Lacrosse teams to aim for LA 2028 Olympics qualification

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitates India's gold-winning lacrosse teams, urging them to target qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

"Lacrosse is an upcoming big sport for India... 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 following their gold medal-winning performances at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh, urging them to continue working hard and aim to create history by qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Interacting with the athletes, the Minister emphasised the importance of determination, exposure and consistent effort in emerging sports like lacrosse, according to a press release from the Sports Ministry.

"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.

He added that the government, through initiatives like Khelo India, will continue to support athletes, but stressed that passion and perseverance remain key.

India delivered a dominant performance at the Asian Lacrosse Games held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this February, securing gold medals in both the men's and women's events in the Sixes format. Indian men and women defeated Iraq and Pakistan, respectively, in their final match.

The Indian women's Lacrosse team made its international debut only in 2024, while the men's team followed in 2025, making the success even more remarkable.

One of the standout features of India's triumph was the diverse representation from across the country, with athletes coming from a wide range of states including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.

The Asian Lacrosse Games, organised under the Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Union, are part of a broader effort to develop competitive pathways in the region ahead of the sport's inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

India's next major assignments include the 3rd Asian Lacrosse Games in Chengdu, China, in April, and the Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Australia this October, which will serve as a qualification pathway for LA 2028.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Wonderful to see a new sport getting recognition. But I hope the government's support goes beyond just felicitations. We need consistent funding, proper coaches, and international training camps. Khelo India is good, but these athletes need a specialized, long-term plan.
R
Rohit P
Beating Pakistan in the final is always sweet! 😄 Jokes aside, this is a huge achievement. Lacrosse in the Olympics is a big deal. Hope our players get the exposure the Minister is talking about. The Chengdu and Australia events will be crucial tests.
S
Sarah B
As someone who played lacrosse in university abroad, I'm thrilled to see India taking it up! The Sixes format is fast and exciting. The team coming from so many different states is amazing for national integration. Wishing them all the best for the qualification pathway!
V
Vikram M
This is what happens when we look beyond cricket. So much potential in other sports. Athletes from J&K, Assam, Tamil Nadu all playing together for India... this is the story we should celebrate more. Minister sahab, please ensure the promise of support is real.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: While the felicitation is good, the article mentions "passion and perseverance remain key". That's true, but it sometimes feels like the onus is put only on the athletes. The system needs to show equal passion in building infrastructure for niche sports.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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