Lalremsiami scores as India beat South Africa 6-1 at Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen

Lalremsiami scored India’s fifth goal in a 6-1 win over South Africa at the Hockey World Cup at the Wagener Stadion in Amstelveen on August 18, 2026, and became the first Indian woman to score in three consecutive World Cups.

A 26-year-old forward, Lalremsiami made her senior India debut at 17 and has amassed 65 goals in 208 appearances. She has been part of India’s two Asian Games podium finishes and the Commonwealth Games bronze-medal side, and hails from Kolasib in northern Mizoram. She has also been named as the first athlete from Mizoram to be nominated for the Arjuna Award.

On the field she showed little outward celebration for the historic strike but reacted with visible pride during the Arjuna Award nomination ceremony. “I am deeply honoured. It is motivating for me to keep working hard,” the 26-year-old said on the sidelines.

Lalremsiami acknowledged the role of her supporters and her home region after receiving the national recognition, paying tribute to those who helped her progress. “Everyone who supported me in my journey is very happy. Where I come from, hockey is not that big. Many people did not believe the award news,” she said.

Speaking about the team’s wider position, Lalremsiami described a period of transition following the Olympics and welcomed the return of the coach. “After the Olympics, many senior players left the team. So it took time for the team to rebuild. We are slowly building the team. Now Sjoerd [Marijne] is back and he has a lot of faith in the team. He has instilled positive qualities in the team,” she said.

India are ranked ninth in the world and are regarded as an outside bet for the World Cup.