Lalthantluangi is set to take the biggest step of her young hockey career after earning her maiden India senior call-up for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games, becoming only the third woman from Mizoram to break into the senior national team.
The 20-year-old will be part of India’s World Cup campaign, which begins against China next week, after making a handful of senior international appearances. Her rapid rise is also a reflection of Mizoram’s growing presence in Indian women’s hockey.
“It has always been my dream to play for India,” Lalthantluangi told TOI. “When I got to know that I had been selected, I felt very grateful. Now I just want to give my 100% every time I step onto the field.”
Lalremsiami Helping Her Find Her Feet
Lalthantluangi has settled into the senior team quicker than expected, with experienced players helping her understand the demands of international hockey.
Fellow Mizo international Lalremsiami has been particularly influential, guiding the youngster both on and off the field.
“Lalremsiami helps me in everything, not only in hockey but also in life. If I do something wrong, she calls me, shows me videos and tells me how I can improve next time,” she said.
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne has also contributed to her development, regularly using video clips to analyse her performances, identify mistakes and explain how she can improve.
Her resilience was already on display during her first senior international match against Argentina earlier this year. Despite suffering a thumb fracture, Lalthantluangi stayed on the field.
“I had a fracture on my thumb, but I still played. After the match, the coach told me I had done well, especially because it was my first senior international match,” she recalled.
A Chance Discovery Changed Her Path
Unlike many elite athletes, Lalthantluangi did not grow up with a carefully planned hockey career.
Mizoram is traditionally known for its passion for football, but Lalthantluangi simply enjoyed playing sport as a child. Her hockey journey began in 2016 when a coach spotted her talent during a zonal school tournament and encouraged her to join the Sports Training Centre.
That opportunity eventually took her from grassroots hockey to the national setup and now onto the biggest stage of her career.
Mizoram Building A Hockey Pipeline
Lalthantluangi’s breakthrough comes as Mizoram continues to establish itself as an emerging hockey nursery.
The state finished third at the Senior Nationals, won the junior Division C title and produced strong performances in the sub-junior competitions. Mizoram also finished runners-up at the inaugural Tribal Games.
The progress is visible in the national development system, with 19 players from Mizoram currently training at National Centres of Excellence across the country.
“Hockey offers one of the best opportunities for Mizo boys and girls to represent India at the Olympics and eventually win medals,” Mizoram sports minister Lalnghinglova Hmar told TOI.
Under the Empowering Mizoram Sports programme, which is designed to prepare athletes for the 2036 Olympics, hockey is among the state’s eight priority sports.
Mizoram currently has three synthetic turfs at Thenzawl, Kawnpui and Muallungthu. Two more are planned at Hnahthial and Lunglei, with the aim of taking the sport to more parts of the state and expanding the talent pool.
From K-Pop Fan To World Cup Hopeful
Away from the hockey field, Lalthantluangi enjoys Korean and English music and is a fan of K-pop star Park Chan-yeol of EXO. She also turns to the Bible to remain calm and focused.
Now, however, her attention is on India’s World Cup campaign and the opportunity to make her mark on the international stage.
For Lalthantluangi, the World Cup and Asian Games are more than milestones in an emerging career. They are an opportunity to become a role model for a new generation of Mizo hockey players and further strengthen Mizoram’s growing reputation as a source of Indian hockey talent.
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