India Dominates Asian Lacrosse Games: Both Men’s and Women’s Teams Reach Finals

Udaipur: At the Asian Lacrosse Games 2025-26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, India’s men’s and women’s lacrosse teams displayed exceptional skill and determination, advancing to the finals in their respective categories.
Men’s Team Performance:
India’s men’s team defeated Pakistan 12-7 in a highly anticipated match, according to team manager Imran Lari. The match, played amid enthusiastic local supporters, saw chief striker Mohanlal Gameti deliver a stellar performance despite having suffered a chin injury in the previous match against Iraq, requiring nine stitches. Mohanlal’s courage inspired the team to play with tactical precision under the guidance of coach Neeraj Batra and technical officer Shakeel Khan.
Key scorers included Mohanlal Gameti (5 goals), Nishan Nagda (3), Dayashankar Gameti (2), and Ashish (2). Strong defense by captain T. Anudeep Reddy, vice-captain Gunish Singh Bedi, Khumaram Gameti, Harsh Nair, and Belagal Hussain, along with multiple crucial saves by young goalkeeper Narayan Lal Gameti, were instrumental in securing the victory. The win sparked celebrations among both Indian and local supporters, with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” reverberating across the stadium.
After the round-robin matches against Iraq and host Saudi Arabia, India and Iraq advanced to the finals based on superior goal difference, while Saudi Arabia will face Pakistan for the third-place match.
Women’s Team Performance:
India’s women’s team also reached the finals after defeating host Saudi Arabia in their final round-robin match, topping the points table. Key contributors included Dali Gameti (5 goals), Yashoda Gameti, Sunita Meena, Khushboo (4 goals each), Janvi Rathore (2 goals), and midfielder Mira Daujha (1 goal). Pakistan’s top scorer, Jula Kumari Gurjar, was sent off with a red card for a dangerous illegal tackle. Indian goalkeepers Yashistha Batra and Mukan Kumari Gurjar delivered outstanding performances. India will face Pakistan in the final.
The achievements were celebrated by Chief of Mission Saurabh Vetal, assistant technical officer Rajpal Renu, coaches, players, and supporters, as well as officials including Lacrosse Federation of India CEO Tausif Lari, Rajasthan Lacrosse Association President Ashok Parnami, Rajasthan Sports Council President Neeraj Pawan, Udaipur MP Dr. Manlal Rawat, Udaipur Rural MLA Phool Singh Meena, Udaipur Divisional Commissioner Pragya Kevalramani, Tribal Development Commissioner Kanhaiyalal Swami, Udaipur Collector Nimit Mehta, and Udaipur Development Authority Commissioner Rahul Jain.
Officials expressed confidence that lacrosse’s popularity will continue to grow across India, providing more opportunities for young athletes to excel on national and international stages.