New Delhi: From a school team in Mizoram to playing her 150th match for the national women’s hockey side, Lalremsiami Hmarzote’s journey has been marked by dedication, determination and discipline.
The 24-year-old celebrated her 150th milestone on 14 November helping India to demolish Thailand 13-0 in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.
The trailblazer, who embodies the growing prominence of Indian women players on the international stage, took just six years to enter the national side in 2017 from when she started learning at a hockey academy in Thenzawl, Serchhip.
She has been pivotal to the side, having participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics–where the Indian women’s team narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth.
The player who primarily plays as a forward also played in the Commonwealth Games, helping India win a bronze in 2018. The team finished fourth in 2022. But, the crowning glory was perhaps the recently-concluded Women’s Asian Championship in Bihar’s Rajgir, where not only did she wield the stick for the 150th time, but Team India also beat China 1-0 to lift the trophy.
Reflecting on the win, she said: “I feel a great sense of pride in having played 150 matches for my country. First, I want to thank God for blessing me, as well as my coaching staff and teammates who have supported me in reaching this milestone. Moving forward, I will continue to work hard to make my country proud once again.”
Now she looks forward to tournaments held by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), and for that the team needs to improve in certain areas, she said. “After the Asian Games, we evaluated our performance to prepare for the European Games. We plan to review our past matches and analyse video footage step-by-step to refine our game further.”
Challenges overcome
Zote’s dominance in high-pressure tournaments have been integral to the team’s growth and success. But her journey has not been without its challenges.
One of the most significant hurdles was language when she first joined the team. “The biggest problem for me was learning Hindi, as it was difficult to communicate otherwise with my teammates,” she told ThePrint.
However, Zote’s commitment to the game and her ability to adapt to the rigorous demands of competition have propelled her to greater heights.
The player has made her place in the national side, as the recent Asian tourney victory has raised expectations of her as well as boosted team confidence.
It was especially significant as the national team had failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics. “We decided to approach the championship one match at a time. Whether it was against Korea or Malaysia, our focus was on securing a win in each game,” Zote added.
The FIH Rising Star of the Year 2019 says her home state Mizoram needs better facilities and ground support for girls to come forward more and more.
“In Mizoram, hockey isn’t very popular, and awareness about the sport is quite low. However, after participating in the Paris Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and winning the Women’s Asian Championship, more people in the state have started following hockey. Despite this growing interest, there’s still a lot to improve. Many people don’t realise that their children can also pursue hockey,” she said.
Mizoram, she said, lacked proper facilities for the sport. “We only have three hockey grounds, and they are located far away. Many children who aspire to play hockey, give up due to lack of infrastructure. If Mizoram had the necessary facilities and more accessible hockey grounds, it could produce many more players capable of representing India.”
She also passionately advocates for better facilities and coaching. “Representing my country always fills me with pride. When I first joined the team, my dream was to wear the Indian jersey. When I finally got that opportunity, it felt amazing. Every time I play for my country, hearing people say, ‘What a great game you’ve played’, motivates me even more,” the hockey ace said.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)