Mizoram: Olympic hockey star Lalremsiami returns home to a grand welcome

A grand welcome was accorded to hockey forward Lalremsiami on Wednesday by the Mizoram government as she returned home for the first after the Tokyo Olympics.

The entire Aizawl was soaked in celebrations as the hockey star returned home after a long haul. From a minister waiting at Lengpui airport to a group of bikers escorting her, entire Aizawl came out to support the 21-year-old from Kolasib.

Residents of Aizawl were upbeat even days before her arrival with banners and posters being erected around the city to welcome her.

The lone Olympian from the state in Tokyo Summer Olympics and the first woman from the state to have actually played for India in the Olympic finals was given a formal state reception at her arrival. The star player arrived at the Lengpui airport at around 1 pm this afternoon, where she was received by State Power Minister L Lalzirliana.

Apart from the ceremonial welcome, she was also escorted all the way from New Delhi to Aizawl by State Sports Minister Robert Romaiwa Royte.

After the ceremony at then airport, Lalremsiami was driven in a large convoy to the prestigious Aryan club where the state government had organised her official felicitation ceremony.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live after the ceremony, Royte declared that the state government will provide her with a Grade A government job and also allot a house for her at her hometown Kolasib.

Meanwhile, Lalremsiami thanked Chief Minister Zormathanga and his cabinet colleagues for welcoming her at such a grand scale and reiterated that such an honour will inspire her to achieve more for the country and Mizoram as well.

Lalremsiami has created history by becoming the first woman from the state to have played for India in the Olympics. Indian hockey has witnessed a historic revival in Tokyo with the men’s team bagging a medal and a female team within a striking distance of winning a medal.