“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.
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.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju gave a special mention to Lalremsiami in a tweet and lauded her spirit.
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.