Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Urges Indian Lacrosse Teams to Secure LA 2028 Olympic Qualification

NEW DELHI, MARCH 25, 2026 — Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, formally felicitated the Indian men’s and women’s lacrosse teams this Wednesday following their historic gold-medal sweep at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh.

During the interaction, the Minister lauded the athletes for their remarkable transition from international debutants to continental champions, emphasizing that their success marks the beginning of a new era for the sport in India. Highlighting the government’s commitment through initiatives like Khelo India, Dr. Mandaviya urged the squads to maintain their momentum and set their sights firmly on creating history by qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where lacrosse will make its highly anticipated return to the global stage.

The Indian teams, featuring a diverse roster of talent from states including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Assam, demonstrated clinical dominance in the “Sixes” format by defeating Iraq and Pakistan in their respective finals. This victory is particularly significant given that the women’s program only launched in 2024, followed by the men’s in 2025.

As the teams prepare for upcoming high-stakes tournaments in Chengdu, China, and the Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Australia later this year, the focus remains on rigorous training and gaining the international exposure necessary to navigate the qualification pathway for LA 2028.