AIZAWL, Sept 2 - Lalremsiami has become the first Mizo sportsperson to win a medal in Asian Games with the Indian women hockey team winning silver medal in the Asian Games in Jakarta.
Lalremsiami, 18, who hails from Kolasib town in northern Mizoram, is the youngest player in the Indian squad and is believed to be the brightest prospect in Indian hockey with �the Under-21 rising star award� at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy to her credit.
She played a total of 31 minutes in five matches and scored two goals, helping India win silver in the tournament.
Lalremsiami, one of the ten siblings of agrarian parents, took up hockey at a very young age. �There is a playground near our house where young girls used to play hockey. She, along with her friends joined them and was spotted by a school hockey coach and was selected for the school games. That was the beginning,� said Lalthansanga, Lalremsiami�s father.
She had represented her school at the inter-school sporting event at the age of 10, and was adjudged as the best hockey player.
At the age of 11 years, Lalremsiami was selected to join the State Government-run hockey academy in Thenzawl.
Eight years later, Lalremsiami got her first call for the senior team, and she helped India win gold at the 2017 Asia Cup.
Struggling to make ends meet at times, Lalremsiami joined the National Hockey Academy in New Delhi in 2016.
She played a vital role in India�s success in last year�s Asia Cup when she scored against Japan and Singapore. Before making it to the senior level, Lalremsiami shone at the 4th U18 Asia Cup, scoring three goals in the tournament. During the recent tour to Korea, her solitary goal in the opening match against Korea gave India a win, where she played for 31 minutes and scored twice.
