In a significant historic milestone for Indian sports, for the first time ever, both the Indian Men's and Women's Lacrosse teams will represent the country at the Asia Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships in October 2026, scheduled to be held on the Gold Coast, Australia. This qualification followed a period of rapid and dominant growth for the sport in India, including a "double gold" sweep on the continental stage earlier this year.

In February 2026, India established itself as a rising power by winning gold in both categories at the Asian Lacrosse Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The women's team secured gold with a commanding 22–5 victory over Pakistan. The men's team won the championship by defeating Iraq 9–2.These victories were achieved in only the second international appearance for both teams (the women debuted in 2024, the men in 2025). The upcoming championship in Australia serves as a critical qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where lacrosse will make its official return after a 100-year hiatus.

Road to Australia and LA 2028

The journey to Los Angeles 2028 is a rigorous three-phase gauntlet. Because there are only six slots available per gender globally, the Indian teams must consistently outrank traditional powerhouses to secure a place in history. This is the first high-pressure hurdle. India must travel to the Sunshine Coast, Australia, for the Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships (October 5–10, 2026). India must finish in the top 5 teams in the Asia-Pacific region.They will face regional giants like Australia and Japan, who are currently ranked among the top four globally.A top-5 finish secures a spot in the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships.

The best 16 teams from the four continental qualifiers (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Pan-American) will gather for the World Lacrosse Sixes Championships. The top four non-host teams at this tournament qualify directly for LA 2028.The United States takes the 5th spot automatically as the host nation.India must finish in the top 12 to remain eligible for the final qualifying stage.