March 25, New Delhi – Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, felicitated the Indian men’s and women’s lacrosse teams on Wednesday for their gold medal-winning performances at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh. He urged the athletes to continue working hard and aim to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Speaking with the athletes, the Minister emphasized the importance of determination, exposure, and consistent effort in emerging sports like lacrosse. “Lacrosse is a promising 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 aiming for qualification at the LA 2028 Olympics,” Dr. Mansukh 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, in February, securing gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events in the Sixes format. The Indian men and women defeated Iraq and Pakistan respectively in the final matches.
The Indian women’s lacrosse team made its international debut in 2024, while the men’s team debuted in 2025, making the achievements even more remarkable. Athletes from diverse states, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, contributed to the success.
Organized under the Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Union, the Asian Lacrosse Games are part of efforts to develop competitive pathways 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.
(Source: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports)
(VideoSource: @mansukhmandviya)
