He highlighted to the athletes that determination, exposure, and consistent effort are crucial for the development of emerging sports like lacrosse. \u201cLacrosse 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,\u201d Mandaviya said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sharing a video of the same on X, he wrote, \u201cFelicitated our lacrosse teams for their commendable performance at the Asian Lacrosse Games 2026 in Riyadh. Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, Bharat\u2019s steady rise in emerging sports is a matter of immense pride, reflecting the expanding depth and strength of our sporting ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mandaviya mentioned that the government will keep supporting athletes via initiatives such as Khelo India, but emphasised that passion and perseverance are essential.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India delivered a commanding performance at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this February, winning gold medals in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Sixes events. The Indian team defeated Iraq in the men\u2019s final and Pakistan in the women\u2019s final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Indian women\u2019s Lacrosse team entered international competition for the first time in 2024, followed by the men\u2019s team in 2025, making their achievements even more impressive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A key highlight of India\u2019s 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Indian women\u2019s Lacrosse team entered international competition for the first time in 2024, followed by the men\u2019s team in 2025, making their achievements even more impressive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India\u2019s 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n