Lalremsiami Strikes Winning Goal For Indian Women's Hockey Team

At 18, Lalremsiami is the youngest player in the Indian women’s hockey team but showed brilliant performance when she struck a late goal to win the match 1-0 against hosts Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (10 April). The team also registered an unassailable lead in the ongoing five-match Bi-lateral Series.

India won the first two matches 3-0 and 5-0 followed by a 4-4 draw in their earlier match. In their fourth match, Lalremsiami's sensational 55th minute goal ensured the team secured a narrow win in a well-fought contest that saw Malaysia give their all to put up a defensive game.

Though it was Malaysia who made a strong start with an early PC in the first minute of the game, a very alert India goalkeeper Savita made a good save. India too earned a PC in the following minute but did not succeed. With India's ace drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur missing the tour due to an injury, India struggled to convert PCs, having lost out on five penalty corner opportunities in this match.

But the team did well to sustain pressure with tight marking inside the circle giving Malaysia no real chance to take a shot at the goal. Having missed out on PCs, India looked for a potential opportunity as minutes ticked away in the final quarter. It was Navneet Kaur who set up a splendid goal opportunity for Lalremsiami who made a diving effort to help India win.

"We played very good third and fourth quarter where we created good scoring opportunities. This is something we want to execute much better tomorrow and especially improve our on-field decision-making," expressed Sjoerd Marijne, Chief Coach Indian Women's Hockey Team after the victory.

Speaking about leading 3-0 in the Series, Marijne said, "Winning is fine but what's more important for me if that we play good, structured hockey. If we tick the right boxes, winning will eventually happen and I would like to see us end the last match tomorrow on the same lines as we played the third and fourth quarters today - fewer mistakes and good energy,"

The Indian women’s hockey team bagged silver medals at both the Asian Games 2018 and Youth Olympic Games.

READ: India Women’s Hockey Team Makes Historic Pitch In World Cup

Lalremsiami is from a small town in Mizoram. Last year she grabbed the spotlight when the team returned home after the victory at the Asian Games and the Youth Olympics. She received the biggest welcome in her hometown. The entire town of Kolasib, 85 km north of state capital Aizawl, gathered together, taking the hockey player on an open palanquin made of bamboo sticks — the highest honour in traditional Mizo practice — and travelling across the streets, reports The Indian Express. The photos went viral on social media for all the good reason.

On 11 April 2019, India will take on Malaysia in the fifth match at 17.35 hours IST.

Kudos to the girls and to Lalremsiami!

Feature Image Credit: Hockey India

Read More Stories By Ria Das