Lalremsiami Hmarzote

{{Infobox field hockey player

| name = Lalremsiami

| image = Women's Hockey5s Medallist Ceremony YOG18 14-10-2018 (041) (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 150px

| caption = Hmar Zote at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

| birth_name = Lalremsiami Hmarzote

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|3|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kolasib, Mizoram, India

| height = 1.57 m

| weight = 52 kg

| position = Forward
Halfback

| years1 =

| clubs1 = Hockey Mizoram

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 =

| clubs2 = Sports Authority of India

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 =

| clubs3 = Railways

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2025–

| clubs4 = Rarh Bengal Tigers

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| nationalyears1 = –2022

| nationalteam1 = India U21

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2017–

| nationalteam2 = India

| nationalcaps2 = 164

| nationalgoals2 = 41

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}

}}

Lalremsiami Hmarzote (born 30 March 2000) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a forward and occasionally as a halfback for the Indian national team.{{cite web |title=Tokyo Olympics 2020: How Mizoram's Lalremsiami Hmarzote Made it to Indian Hockey Team |url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/tokyo-olympics-2020-how-mizorams-lalremsiami-hmarzote-made-it-to-indian-hockey-team-4039544.html |website=News18 |access-date=26 May 2022 |language=en |date=3 August 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Sikdar |first1=Sandip |title=Against South Korea, India banking on Olympics trio |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/hockey/against-south-korea-india-banking-on-olympics-trio-101649345659080.html |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=7 April 2022 |language=en}} At the club level, she plays for Sports Authority of India.{{cite news |title=Hockey India names 33 players for junior women's national camp |url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Sports/2017-10-27/Hockey-India-names-33-players-for-junior-womens-national-camp/335728 |accessdate=16 July 2018 |work=The Hans India |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716114350/http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Sports/2017-10-27/Hockey-India-names-33-players-for-junior-womens-national-camp/335728 |archivedate=16 July 2018 |language=en}} Hmarzote was a part of the 18-member squad that represented India at the 2018 World Cup. At the Asian Games that followed, she became the first sportsperson from Mizoram to win an Asian medal after she won silver.

Early life

Hmarzote was born into a family of agriculturists in Kolasib, a town approximately {{convert|80|km|mi}} from Aizawl, Mizoram.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/mizo-girl-siami-lets-her-hockey-stick-do-all-the-talking/articleshow/63449465.cms|title=Mizo girl Siami lets her hockey stick do all the talking|work=The Times of India|access-date=28 July 2018}} Her father, Lalthansanga Zote (d. 2019),{{cite web |last1=Seal |first1=Arnab Lall |title=Olympic hockey debutants Lalremsiami and Salima trained through pandemic and personal setbacks |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tokyo-olympics/olympic-hockey-debutants-lalremsiami-and-salima-trained-through-pandemic-and-personal-setbacks/articleshow/84517490.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=26 May 2022 |language=en |date=18 July 2021}} served in the Indian army and later worked as a farmer and her mother, Lalzarmawii, a homemaker. Lalremsiami was selected to a hockey academy run by the government of Mizoram in Thenzawl, Serchhip when she was 11.{{cite web |last1=Zothansanga |first1=John |title=Asian Games 2018: The making of Lalremsiami, Indian hockey's brightest prospect |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/asian-games/asian-games-2018-the-making-of-indias-brightest-hockey-prospect-lalremsiami-5314670/ |website=The Indian Express |accessdate=3 September 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903112441/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/asian-games/asian-games-2018-the-making-of-indias-brightest-hockey-prospect-lalremsiami-5314670/ |archivedate=3 September 2018 |date=19 August 2018}} In 2016, she joined the National Hockey Academy in New Delhi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.inkhel.com/post/india-hockey-team-ah-mizo-nula-lalremsiami|title=India hockey team-ah Mizo nula Lalremsiami|website=Inkhel.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728095811/https://www.inkhel.com/post/india-hockey-team-ah-mizo-nula-lalremsiami |archivedate=28 July 2018|access-date=28 July 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/23572238/how-lalremsiami-fought-language-barriers-become-india-rising-star|title='As long as they're talking about hockey I can catch up'|work=ESPN|access-date=28 July 2018|language=en}} Struggling with Hindi during this time, she picked up the language with the help of teammates who call her 'Siami', a shortened nickname of her full name.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mykhel.com/hockey/cwg-2018-hockey-helps-mizo-girl-lalremsiami-learn-hindi-084534.html|title=CWG 2018: Hockey helps Mizo girl Lalremsiami learn hindi|date=22 March 2018|website=mykhel.com|access-date=28 July 2018|language=en}}

Career

= 2016–2020: Youth level and early international career =

Hmarzote was included in the under-18 India side that played at the Asia Cup in 2016, before being drafted to the senior camp the following year by Baljit Singh Saini, then coach of the junior team.{{cite web |last1=Veerappa |first1=Manuja |title=Mizo girl Siami lets her hockey stick do all the talking |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/mizo-girl-siami-lets-her-hockey-stick-do-all-the-talking/articleshow/63449465.cms |website=The Times of India |accessdate=16 July 2018 |date=25 March 2018}} She represented the U-18 side at Asian Youth Olympic Games qualifier, that her side finished second in. Hmarzote finished the tournament scoring seven goals in five games.{{cite news |last1=Ninan |first1=Susan |title='As long as they're talking about hockey I can catch up' |url=http://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/23572238 |accessdate=16 July 2018 |work=ESPN |date=22 May 2018}} Hmarzote was first included in the senior team for its tour of Europe in September 2017.{{cite news |title=Europe tour: Rani to lead Indian women's hockey team |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/europe-tour-rani-to-lead-indian-womens-hockey-team/articleshow/60190090.cms |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |agency=PTI |date=23 August 2017 |language=en}} She was again included in the squad for India's victorious Asia Cup campaign that year,{{cite news |title=Hockey India names 18-member Indian Women's Hockey Team for the 18th Asian Games |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/hockey-india-names-18-member-indian-womens-hockey-team-18th-asian-games-1502658203.html |accessdate=16 July 2018 |work=The Statesman |date=7 July 2018}} the win coming after 13 years.{{cite news |title=India women beat China to win Asia Cup 2017 |url=https://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/21296579 |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=ESPN |date=5 November 2017 |language=en}} Her first goal came against Singapore in a 10–0 win in a group-stage fixture.{{cite news |title=Indian women’s hockey team score sensational 10-0 win over Singapore in Asia Cup |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/indian-womens-hockey-team-score-sensational-10-0-win-over-singapore-4910882 |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=The Indian Express |agency=PTI |date=28 October 2017 |language=en}} In the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, Hmarzote played for a total of 31 minutes on the field across five matches scoring two goals, including an equalizer in a crucial final round-robin match, and was named the tournament's 'U-21 rising star award'. India won silver in the campaign.

Hmarzote was included in the squad for the 2018 World Cup as India's youngest player at 18. After strong performances in the league games, Hmarzote scored her first and only goal of the tournament in the crossover match against Italy. Receiving an assist at the far post sent in off a long corner by Reena Khokhar, Hmarzote scored off the reverse stick on seeing goalkeeper Martina Chirico advance, giving her side an early 1–0 lead.{{cite news |last1=Sen |first1=Debayan |title=Lalremsiami takes big steps as India march on |url=http://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/24249559 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |work=ESPN |date=1 August 2018 |language=en}} India advanced to the quarter-final after a 3–0 win.{{cite news |title=Hockey WC: Lalremsiami, Vandana help India enter last eight |url=http://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/24156888 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |work=ESPN |date=31 July 2018 |language=en}} Facing Ireland in the quarter-final, her side lost in the penalty shoot-out{{cite news |title=Hockey Women's World Cup: Ireland beat India in shootout to reach semi-finals |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/hockey/45048951 |accessdate=3 August 2018 |work=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2018}} and finished in the eighth place.{{cite news |title=Women's Hockey World Cup: Indian Women Lose To Ireland In Quarter-Finals Via Shoot Off |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/hockey/womens-hockey-world-cup-indian-women-lose-to-ireland-via-shoot-off-1894360 |accessdate=3 September 2018 |work=NDTV |agency=Press Trust Of India |date=3 August 2018 |language=en}}

Hmarzote scored four goals at the Jakarta Asian Games that followed the World Cup. The first goal came in the 24th minute of the group stage game against Indonesia that her team went on to win 8–0.{{cite news |title=Asian Games 2018: Indian women's hockey team thrash Indonesia 8-0 in opener |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/asian-games/asian-games-2018-indian-womens-hockey-team-thrash-indonesia-8-0-in-opener-5314661/ |accessdate=3 September 2018 |work=The Indian Express |agency=Press Trust of India |date=19 August 2018}} She scored a hat-trick in a 21–0 victory over Kazakhstan in the next game; the win margin was India's second best at the Games.{{cite news |last1=Ganesan |first1=Uthra |title=Asiad hockey: Indian women's team mauls Kazakhstan 21-0 |url=https://www.sportstarlive.com/asian-games-2018/asian-games-2018-hockey-results-highlights-india-vs-kazakhstan-indian-womens-hockey-team-mauls-kazakhstan-21-0/article24746751.ece |accessdate=3 September 2018 |work=Sportstarlive |date=21 August 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903114435/https://www.sportstarlive.com/asian-games-2018/asian-games-2018-hockey-results-highlights-india-vs-kazakhstan-indian-womens-hockey-team-mauls-kazakhstan-21-0/article24746751.ece |archivedate=3 September 2018 |language=en}} Following good performances, her team lost to Japan by a 1–2 margin in the final, settling for the silver medal.{{cite news |last1=Ganesan |first1=Uthra |title=Asian Games: India women claim silver in hockey after 1-2 loss to Japan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/asian-games-india-women-claim-silver-in-hockey-after-1-2-loss-to-japan/article24834347.ece |accessdate=3 September 2018 |work=The Hindu |date=31 August 2018 |language=en-IN}} In the process, Hmarzote became the first sportsperson from Mizoram to win an Asian Games medal.{{cite web |title=Lalremsiami first Mizo sportsperson to win an Asiad medal |url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/lalremsiami-first-mizo-sportsperson-win-asiad-medal.html |website=Northeast Now |accessdate=3 September 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903111927/https://nenow.in/north-east-news/lalremsiami-first-mizo-sportsperson-win-asiad-medal.html |archivedate=3 September 2018 |date=2 September 2018}} In the five-a-side event at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics that year, she helped India secure a silver medal, their first in the history of the Games.{{cite news |title=Maiden Youth Olympic silver medals for Indian hockey teams |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sport/maiden-youth-olympic-silver-medals-for-indian-hockey-teams/668560.html |accessdate=5 February 2019 |work=The Tribune |agency=Press Trust of India |date=15 October 2018}} Hmarzote scored nine goals in the competition, that included braces against Austria,{{cite news |title=India women beat Austria 4-2 in Youth Olympics hockey |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/india-women-beat-austria-4-2-in-youth-olympics-hockey/articleshow/66116113.cms |accessdate=5 February 2019 |agency=Press Trust of India |work=The Times of India |date=8 October 2018}} Uruguay{{cite news |title=Youth Olympics hockey 5s: Lalremsiami scores a brace as India beat Uruguay 2-1 |url=https://scroll.in/field/897502/youth-olympics-hockey-5s-lalremsiami-scores-a-brace-as-india-beat-uruguay-2-1 |accessdate=5 February 2019 |agency=Press Trust of India |publisher=Scroll.in |date=8 October 2018}} and Vanuatu.{{cite news |title=Youth Olympics: Indian women's hockey team thrash Vanuatu 16-0 |url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/youth-olympics-indian-womens-hockey-team-thrash-vanuatu-16-0/20181010.htm |accessdate=5 February 2019 |agency=Press Trust of India |work=Rediff.com}}

Hmarzote scored a brace against Spain in her team's 5–2 win against them on their tour of the country in January 2019.{{cite news |title=Hockey: Lalremsiami brace helps India defeat Spain 5-2 |url=https://scroll.in/field/911294/hockey-lalremsiami-brace-helps-india-defeat-spain-5-2 |accessdate=6 February 2019 |work=Scroll.in |date=29 January 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206142945/https://scroll.in/field/911294/hockey-lalremsiami-brace-helps-india-defeat-spain-5-2 |archivedate=6 February 2019}} A win against Chile in the semi-final of the 2018–19 FIH Series Finals meant India secured advanced to the final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.{{cite news |title=Olympic qualifiers: Women's hockey team in final round |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/olympic-qualifiers-womens-hockey-team-in-final-round-742135.html |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |agency=PTI |date=22 June 2019 |language=en}} Her performances in 2019 fetched her the FIH Rising Star of the Year award.{{cite news |title=Lalremsiami bags FIH Rising Star of the Year honour |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/lalremsiami-indian-hockey-fih-rising-star-2020 |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=Olympics.com |date=24 February 2021}}

= 2021–present: Tokyo Olympics =

Hmarzote toured Argentina and Germany with the Indian squad in preparation for the Olympic Games in early 2021. In June that year, she was named in the Olympics squad, becoming the first female sportsperson from Mizoram to represent India at the Games.{{cite news |title=Selection in Olympic team was my late father's dream: Lalremsiami |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/selection-in-olympic-team-was-my-late-fathers-dream-lalremsiami/articleshow/83685836.cms |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=The Times of India |agency=Press Trust of India |date=20 June 2021 |language=en}} Her team was placed fourth, their best ever finish at the Games, and was ranked eighth in the FIH World Rankings, their highest ever.{{cite news |title=Indian Hockey Teams achieve best-ever FIH World Rankings; Men's Team rise to 3rd and Women's Team to 8th |url=https://www.hockeyindia.org/news/indian-hockey-teams-achieve-best-ever-fih-world-rankings-mens-team-rise-to-3rd-and-womens-team-to-8th |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Hockey India |date=7 August 2021 |language=en}} She was subsequently appointed the chief coach, a group A post, under the Mizoram sports and youth services department. A cash reward of {{INR}}25 lakh and a housing plot were allotted to her by the government.{{cite news |title=Mizoram Government appoints Olympic-returned Lalremsiami as hockey chief coach |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/mizoram-government-appoints-olympic-returned-lalremsiami-as-hockey-chief-coach/articleshow/85483434.cms |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |agency=PTI |date=20 August 2021 |language=en}}

In November 2021, Hmarzote was named captain of the India national under-21 team for the 2022 Junior World Cup.{{cite news |title=Tokyo Olympian Lalremsiami to lead India in women's junior World Cup |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/hockey/tokyo-olympian-lalremsiami-to-lead-india-in-women-s-junior-world-cup-101636975188627.html |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |agency=PTI |date=15 November 2021 |language=en}} A few months later, ahead of the tournament, Salima Tete was named captain.{{cite news |title=Salima Tete to lead India in FIH Women's Junior World Cup |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/salima-tete-to-lead-india-in-fih-womens-junior-world-cup/articleshow/90288543.cms |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |agency=PTI |date=17 March 2022 |language=en}} India finished fourth.{{cite news |title=England beat India to win first Jr. World Cup bronze |url=https://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/33721932 |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=ESPN |date=12 April 2022 |language=en}} In the Asia Cup that year, India won bronze; Hmarzote scored twice: in a 9–0 win over Malaysia{{cite news |title=Women's Asia Cup: Defending champions India dominate Malaysia in 9-0 thrashing |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2022/jan/22/womens-asia-cup-defending-champions-india-dominate-malaysia-in-9-0-thrashing-2410003.html |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=The New Indian Express |date=22 January 2022}} and a 2–3 loss to South Korea in the semi-final.{{cite news |title=South Korea beat India 3-2 in Asia Cup women’s hockey semis |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/hockey/asia-cup-hockey-india-s-title-hopes-dash-after-losing-2-3-to-korea-in-semifinal-101643209894894.html |access-date=26 May 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=26 January 2022 |language=en}} Hmarzote played in the midfield in the tournament as opposed to her traditional position of forward.