India's Lacrosse Team Sets Sights on Olympic Glory After Historic Asian Games Victory

A Historic Achievement and Olympic Aspirations

With a remarkable double gold at the 2026 Asian Lacrosse Games, Anudeep Reddy, the captain of India's men's lacrosse team, believes this achievement has laid a strong foundation for their Olympic dreams as they gear up for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. In Riyadh, both the men's and women's teams made history by securing gold medals against Iraq and Pakistan, marking India's inaugural international success in lacrosse. For Reddy and his teammates, this victory signifies more than just medals; it demonstrates that a relatively new sport in India can quickly gain recognition on the world stage.

Reflecting on the Journey

The 27-year-old captain expressed that this moment is particularly significant for a team that has only been formed for a few years. "Our entire Indian team has been playing for just two and a half to three years. Winning the gold medal at such a prestigious event was an incredible experience, especially since it's India's first international medal in lacrosse. We are thrilled with this achievement," Reddy shared.

He further noted that this success has significantly boosted the team's morale as they prepare for the Olympic qualifiers. "This victory has set a positive tone for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers and the 2028 Olympics," he added.

Understanding the Lacrosse Sixes Format

Lacrosse has been included as one of the five new sports for the 2028 Summer Olympics, featuring the faster 'sixes' format. Reddy, who leads India in both field lacrosse and lacrosse sixes, elaborated on the differences between the two styles.

"Field lacrosse is the traditional format, played on a larger field with 10 players on each side. In contrast, lacrosse sixes is much quicker, played on a smaller field with 6 players per team," he explained.

He also pointed out the pace of the sixes format, which consists of four eight-minute quarters. "Field lacrosse lasts about an hour, while lacrosse sixes is only 32 minutes long, making it extremely fast-paced," he noted.

Preparations for LA28 Underway

Preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics are already in progress, with the Asia-Pacific Olympic qualifiers scheduled in Australia this October. "We have participated in several international tournaments recently, and winning double gold at the Asian Lacrosse Games was a crucial starting point for our Olympic preparations. We have multiple national camps planned in the coming months, along with a few international tournaments," Reddy stated.

Grassroots Development and Need for Support

Despite their recent success, Reddy acknowledged that lacrosse in India is still in its infancy and primarily driven by grassroots initiatives. "Currently, everything has been built from the ground up. We have been managing most aspects ourselves, with support from the Lacrosse Association of India. However, we are looking for increased backing from the government," he mentioned.

"Once we receive government support and assistance from the ministry, we can establish a more structured approach to our future preparations," Reddy added.

The Formation of Team India

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Acknowledging the Women's Team and Coaching Staff

Reddy also recognized the contributions of women's captain Sunita Meena, who leads a more experienced women's team that has been competing internationally since 2023. "The women's team has a richer history in India, having played lacrosse sixes at the international level since 2023, while we only began in 2025," he noted.

He praised the national coach Neeraj Batra, a former hockey player and coach, for his guidance of both the men's and women's teams.

Looking Forward to the Qualifiers

As the team looks ahead, Reddy emphasized their focus on upcoming tournaments, including the Asian Lacrosse Games in Chengdu in April and the vital Asia-Pacific Olympic qualifiers later this year. With the confidence gained from their gold medal at the Asian Lacrosse Games and the qualifiers approaching, Reddy believes that India's young lacrosse team is just beginning its journey and hopes to maintain this momentum all the way to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.