Aizawl: The Mizoram government on Friday announced a major cash incentive for its two hockey stars who were part of India’s historic gold medal winning campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Chief Minister Lalduhoma declared that Indian women’s hockey team forwards Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi will each receive Rs 25 lakh for their outstanding contribution to the national team’s success. The announcement was made shortly after India defeated defending champions China to clinch the women’s hockey gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, ending a long wait of 44 years.
The Indian women’s hockey team created history on Thursday by defeating China 1-0 in a closely contested final. The victory brought back the Asian Games gold to India after 1982, when the women’s team had last won the title. For more than four decades, the team had come close on several occasions but failed to cross the final hurdle. This time, the team held its nerve and produced a memorable performance under pressure to secure the top podium finish and bring glory to the nation.
Mizo forward Lalremsiami emerged as the hero of the final. The Arjuna Awardee scored the only and decisive goal of the match that separated the two teams. Her goal proved to be the match-winner against a strong Chinese side that had dominated Asian women’s hockey in recent years. Lalremsiami, who hails from Kolasib district in Mizoram, has been a consistent performer for India for many years and has represented the country at the Olympics and World Cups. Her contribution in the final was widely praised.
Lalthantluangi, the second Mizo player in the squad, also played an important role throughout the tournament. Though she did not score in the final, her presence in the midfield and her ability to create chances and defend under pressure was crucial to India’s campaign. Both players have become role models for young sportspersons from Mizoram and the entire Northeast region, where hockey is not traditionally a popular sport compared to football, but their success has inspired a new generation of players.
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Chief Minister Lalduhoma congratulated the Indian women’s hockey team on its landmark achievement and specially praised the two Mizo players for making the state proud. In a statement issued by the state government, the Chief Minister said the victory is a proud moment not just for Mizoram but for the entire country. He said Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi have shown that with hard work, discipline and determination, players from a small state like Mizoram can shine on the biggest stage in Asia.
The state government said the cash reward of Rs 25 lakh each is a token of recognition for their hard work and for bringing honour to Mizoram. The government also said it will continue to support sportspersons from the state and will improve sports infrastructure to produce more international level players in the future. Mizoram has produced several top footballers, boxers and hockey players in recent years and the government wants to build on this success by providing better training facilities.
Apart from the historic gold medal, the victory also secured a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games for the Indian women’s hockey team. According to the qualification rules, the gold medallist from the Asian Games gets an automatic berth for the Olympics. This means India will not have to go through the tough qualifying tournaments and can directly start preparing for the Olympics, which is a big advantage for the team management and players.
Hockey India, the governing body for the sport in the country, has also announced cash rewards for the gold medal winning team. Each player of the women’s team will receive Rs 11 lakh, while each member of the support staff, including coaches, physios and other officials, will receive Rs 5.5 lakh. The announcement was made by Hockey India after the final and is seen as an encouragement for the players ahead of the Olympic Games preparation.
The historic victory received widespread praise from political leaders across the country. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to social media platform X to congratulate the team. He wrote that the daughters of India have created history by bringing the Asian Games crown home after 44 years. He also said the victory shows the strength, determination and excellence of Indian women in sports and that the direct qualification for Los Angeles 2028 is a matter of great pride for the nation.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang also congratulated the Indian women’s hockey team for its gold medal winning performance. In his message on X, Tamang said the 1-0 victory over China is a moment of immense pride for every Indian. He praised the team’s determination, teamwork and fighting spirit and said the triumph showcases the strength of Indian women in sports. He said the victory is a celebration of hard work, resilience and team spirit.
For Mizoram, the success of Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi adds another proud chapter to the state’s growing contribution to Indian sports. Despite being a small state with limited infrastructure, Mizoram has consistently produced athletes who have represented India at the highest level in football, boxing, weightlifting and now hockey. The achievement of the two Mizo players in Japan will be remembered as one of the most inspiring stories of the 2026 Asian Games.
The Indian women’s hockey team will now return home to a grand welcome. The players will be felicitated by the central government and various state governments in the coming days. The focus will soon shift to the preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the team will aim to win its first ever Olympic medal after the historic Asian Games gold that ended a 44-year-long wait for the country.
