Aizawl: Mizoram hockey star and Olympian Lalremsiami Hmar has been selected for the prestigious Arjuna Award 2025, becoming the first sportsperson from the state to receive one of India’s highest national sporting honours.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the selection on August 18, 2026. The recognition marks a historic milestone for Mizoram and adds to a career in which Lalremsiami has established herself as one of the leading players in Indian women’s hockey.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma congratulated Lalremsiami, describing the announcement as a matter of “great pride and immense joy” for the state.
“It is a matter of great pride and immense joy that Ms Lalremsiami, India’s international hockey player and our only Mizo woman Olympian, has been selected for the prestigious Arjuna Award 2025,” Lalduhoma said in a statement shared on social media.
He said Lalremsiami had brought immense pride to Mizoram through her dedication, perseverance and contribution to Indian hockey, adding that her achievement would inspire the state’s youth.
Excise & Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar also congratulated the hockey player, calling the award a proud moment for both Lalremsiami and Mizoram.
“Her dedication, hard work and remarkable contribution to Indian hockey have brought immense pride to the state and the nation,” Hmar said.
From Kolasib to the Olympics
Lalremsiami, popularly known as Siami, hails from Kolasib in Mizoram and was introduced to hockey as a child while playing near her home. She told Hockey India that her school coach noticed her playing and selected her for the school team. At 10, she played her first inter-school tournament and won the Best Hockey Player award.
She later spent five years training in Thenzawl before moving to Delhi in 2016, where she joined the National Hockey Academy. Her breakthrough came through the junior national system, eventually leading to her senior India debut against Belarus in 2017.
In 2018, Lalremsiami was part of India’s silver-medal-winning team at the Asian Games in Jakarta and helped India win silver at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games. She subsequently became the first female hockey player from Mizoram to represent India at the Olympics when she competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
At Tokyo, the Indian women’s team reached the semi-finals for the first time in Olympic history and eventually finished fourth. Lalremsiami was part of the historic campaign.
Her international career has since included appearances at the 2018 and 2022 Women’s World Cups, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 2022 Asian Games and multiple Asian Champions Trophy and Asia Cup campaigns. She won bronze with India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games and gold at the 2017 Women’s Asia Cup. Hockey India records 187 international caps and 46 goals for the forward.
She has also received international recognition, winning the FIH Rising Star of the Year award in 2019.
Her journey has also been marked by personal adversity. During the 2019 FIH Women’s Series Finals in Hiroshima, Japan, Lalremsiami lost her father but chose to remain with the Indian team and continued playing. India went on to win the tournament.
Instituted in 1961, the Arjuna Award is presented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to sportspersons who have demonstrated consistent high-level performance at the international level, along with qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and discipline.
The award includes a statuette, certificate, ceremonial dress and a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh under the current scheme.
Lalremsiami’s selection carries particular significance for Mizoram, as she is set to become the first sportsperson from the state to receive the Arjuna Award.
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