CHENNAI: When Rani Rampal made her debut in the India women’s team, she was the youngest, aged only 14 years. Her ability to break into the opponent’s defence and conjure up goals, and run tirelessly throughout four quarters were traits that set her apart as a striker.Those are the same characteristics that can be used to Rani’s companion up front since 2017, 18-year-old Lalremsiami.
After successful maiden outings in World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympic Games, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Lalremsiami — as she is fondly called by her teammates — will be a long-term investment for India’s forward line.
The only player from the senior team to feature in this Youth Olympics, Lalremsiami scored nine goals for India in hockey 5s. Hailing from Kolasib in Mizoram, her eagerness to learn is what defines this young striker. That eagerness also showed off the field when she started carrying around a Mizo-to-Hindi dictionary, as she initially couldn’t understand the language.
Her improved match-awareness was reflected in India’s World Cup clash against Italy, a crucial tie. Exploiting space in Italy’s striking circle, Lalremsiami struck in the ninth minute. Apart from that goal, her runs down the centre and flanks eventually saw India clinch the match 3-0. Lalremsiami credited skipper Rani for her evolution. “When you are playing with an experienced player like Rani, there are obviously plenty of things to learn,” she told Express. “Quick finishing is one. She also helped me fine-tune my shooting. As a striker, you will come across situations where you need to make decisions quickly. I was able handle those situations better because she was by my side, sharing her experience with me.”
Lalremsiami has also concentrated on keeping herself fit throughout the year. “It was a very important year. As a player, it has been a huge learning curve for me. Everyone knows how coach (Sjoerd) Marijne has always emphasised on improving our fitness in order to play attacking hockey. It has helped me to perform well and recover faster. Personally, I have started feeling more confident. Improved fitness has instilled in us the belief that we can take on any opponent.”
The year is done and dusted for the women’s team in terms of international fixtures, but Lalremsiami is hungry to perform better in the next season.“We missed a direct chance to play in Olympics after losing to Japan in the Asiad finals. Our immediate target is to qualify for Olympics. We need to work harder if we want to finish on the podium.”With two potent strikers in Rani and Lalremsiami, India will have increased hopes for making the cut for Tokyo.
srinidhi@newindianexpress