Indian women's hockey player and Olympian Lalremsiami Hmar has made history by becoming the first sportsperson from Mizoram to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the Arjuna Award 2025 to Lalremsiami at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday, November 13, 2026. She was among 17 sportspersons selected for the award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on August 18, 2026.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Lalremsiami becomes the first sportsperson from Mizoram to receive the Arjuna Award.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the award on November 13, 2026.
She was among 17 sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award 2025.
She represented India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
She helped India win silver at the 2018 Asian Games and bronze in 2022.
She scored the winning goal in India's 2026 Asian Games women's hockey final against China.
Hailing from Kolasib district in northern Mizoram, Lalremsiami developed an interest in hockey at an early age. She joined the state-run hockey academy at Thenzawl in 2011, when she was 11, before moving to the National Hockey Academy in New Delhi in 2016.
She made her debut at the Junior Nehru Hockey Tournament in October 2011 and was subsequently selected for India's Under-18 team for the 2016 Asian Cup. In 2017, she received her first call-up to the senior national team and was part of India's Asia Cup-winning squad.
Lalremsiami went on to establish herself as an important member of the Indian women's hockey team. She represented India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the team finished fourth. She also became the first woman from Mizoram to compete at the Olympic Games.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Lalremsiami's achievement is a landmark moment for Mizoram's sporting history. Her recognition highlights the contribution of athletes from the Northeast to Indian sports and provides encouragement to young players aspiring to represent the country internationally.
Her achievements include helping India win silver at the 2018 Asian Games and bronze at the 2022 Asian Games. She was also part of India's victorious campaigns at the Women's Asian Champions Trophy in 2023 and 2024.
In October 2026, Lalremsiami achieved another major milestone at the Asian Games in Japan. She scored the decisive goal in India's 1-0 victory over China in the women's hockey final, securing the country's first gold medal in the event since 1982. The final also marked her 200th international appearance for India.
In 2020, she became the first Indian woman hockey player to receive the International Hockey Federation's Women's Rising Star of the Year award.
The Arjuna Award adds another significant distinction to her career and marks a historic achievement for Mizoram. Her journey from Kolasib to the international hockey arena has brought recognition to the state's contribution to Indian sport.
