“I want to make my father proud. I want to stay, play and make sure India qualifies.”
That is what 19-year-old Indian striker Lalremsiami said when she was asked if he would like to go back to her home to attend her father’s last rites.
It was on Friday – a day before India was supposed to play Chile in the FIH Series Finals – a match that would decide if the team qualifies for Olympics.
AND THEY GET ONE STEP CLOSER…
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 23, 2019
Congratulations to the Indian Women’s Team on comprehensively winning the FIH Women’s Series Finals Hiroshima 2019 and thereby qualifying for the Olympic qualifiers! 👏🏼🎉🎊#IndiaKaGame #FIHSeriesFinals #RoadToTokyo #INDvJPN pic.twitter.com/40FLOF9hkI
To honour her late father, Mizoram player Lalremsiami stayed back in Hiroshima and saw the team through the semi-final and the final, to eventually clinch the trophy.
Here comes the great news! India clinched the Women’s FIH Series Finals hockey tournament by beating Japan 3-1 in the finals at Hiroshima🇮🇳
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 23, 2019
What an amazing games displayed by Indian Women team🏑
CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS! https://t.co/QIBxlGq4H6
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju gave a special mention to Lalremsiami in a tweet and lauded her spirit.
Indian women hockey player Lalremsiami’s father expired when India was to play a crucial semifinal at Hiroshima that would determine if India’s Olympics dream would be alive. She told coach, ‘I want to make my father proud. I want to stay, play and make sure India qualifies🇮🇳🙏 pic.twitter.com/V9tlE84z4K
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 23, 2019
India defeated Chile 4-2 in the semis and Japan 3-1 in the final to sail through easily and book their berth for upcoming Olympic Games.
