Songpi/Aizawl: Indian women’s hockey forward Lalremsiami has created history by becoming the first sportsperson from Mizoram to be selected for the prestigious Arjuna Award. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday unveiled the list of Arjuna Awardees for 2025, recognising her sustained and consistent contribution to Indian hockey over the last eight years on the international stage.
The 26-year-old forward from Kolasib district, who made her senior India debut in 2017, has been a mainstay of the national team across multiple Olympic cycles. She was an integral part of the historic Indian team that achieved the country’s best-ever fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 under coach Sjoerd Marijne. Her pace, work rate and ability to score crucial goals under pressure earned her the FIH Women’s Rising Star of the Year award in 2019, a year that marked her emergence as one of the most promising young attackers in world hockey.
Lalremsiami’s recent form has reaffirmed her importance to the current Indian setup. As recently as June 2026, she produced a match-winning performance in the final of the FIH Women’s Nations Cup, where she was adjudged Player of the Match as India defeated New Zealand to lift the title and gain momentum ahead of the World Cup. Currently, she is part of the Indian squad competing at the ongoing Women’s Hockey World Cup, where India is aiming for a deep run after registering a dominant 6-1 victory over South Africa to go top of Group D.
Her selection for the Arjuna Award is being widely celebrated as a landmark moment for Mizoram, a state that is traditionally known as a powerhouse of Indian football. Despite having limited hockey infrastructure compared to states like Odisha, Punjab and Haryana, Lalremsiami’s rise from the SAI Training Centre at Thenzawl has changed perceptions in the Northeast. Her journey has proved that world-class hockey talent can emerge from the hills of Mizoram and has encouraged many young tribal girls to take up the sport.
Perhaps the happiest to see her selection was her long-time childhood coach Lalrampari Sailo, popularly known as Miss B’tei, who first spotted and trained her during her formative years at the SAI centre in Thenzawl. Speaking to The Times of India, B’tei said the recognition was long overdue and a result of years of discipline. “I identified her potential early and believed that she would one day represent the country. She is a very hardworking and dedicated athlete. I am extremely proud of her performance on such a big world stage and her selection for the Arjuna Award,” she said.
B’tei added that the honour will have a far-reaching impact at the grassroots level in the state. “Now, she will become an inspiration for the younger generation. Seeing Siami receive this award will make children believe that they too can achieve great things. When children from remote villages see her story, it will give them tremendous encouragement and determination to pursue their dreams, whether in hockey or any other sport,” she added.
The impact of Lalremsiami’s rise is already visible in the state. In a football-crazy culture, hockey has now started to find a foothold, with several youngsters taking up the game and subsequently earning selection to National Centres of Excellence across the country in recent years. Following in her footsteps, Lalthantluangi recently became the third player from Mizoram to make the women’s national team and is currently part of India’s World Cup squad, highlighting a growing pipeline of talent from the state.
Mizoram Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar congratulated Lalremsiami and termed the achievement a proud moment for every Mizo. “This recognition will undoubtedly inspire many Mizo boys and girls to take up sport, dream big and aim for greater achievements. Siami is a role model both on and off the pitch, and an inspiration to countless young Mizos. Heartiest congratulations to Lalremsiami and the entire hockey fraternity of Mizoram. This is a proud moment for all of us,” Hmar told TOI.
The minister further said that the Mizoram government has already identified hockey as one of the priority sports under its flagship scheme ‘Empowering Mizoram Sports’. The initiative aims to provide better training facilities, modern equipment support, scientific coaching and national and international exposure tours for budding players. Hmar expressed confidence that Lalremsiami’s historic honour will further accelerate the growth of the game and attract more corporate and government support for hockey academies in the state.
For now, however, celebrations in Mizoram will have to wait for Lalremsiami herself. With India’s World Cup campaign underway and a high-stakes group-stage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan scheduled next, the forward is fully focused on the field. The team management believes her speed on the flank, pressing ability and experience of playing in big matches under pressure will be crucial if India are to secure a knockout berth and improve upon their previous best World Cup performances.
