Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju lauded Indian women hockey team’s striker Lalremsiami, who stayed back in Hiroshima to play for the country women’s FIH Series Finals hockey tournament despite her father’s death.

Lalremsiami got the news of her father’s demise due to heart attack on Friday morning when she was preparing for Indian women hockey team’s semifinal match against Chile on Saturday.

She was supposed to attend her father’s funeral at Kolasib in Mizoram but Lalremsiami decided to stay back and give her best shot to make her father’s soul proud.

Lalremsiami’s choice was well rewarded as India won the semifinal by beating Chile 4-2 on Saturday and the final of FIH Series Finals hockey tournament on Sunday by defeating Japan 3-1.

Informing about the win of the Indian eves, union minister of state (independent charge) for youth affairs and sports Kiren Rijiju on his Twitter handle stated: “Here comes the great news! India clinched the Women’s FIH Series Finals hockey tournament by beating Japan 3-1 in the finals at Hiroshima What an amazing games displayed by Indian Women team. CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS!”

Here comes the great news! India clinched the Women's FIH Series Finals hockey tournament by beating Japan 3-1 in the finals at Hiroshima??

What an amazing games displayed by Indian Women team?

CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS! https://t.co/QIBxlGq4H6 — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 23, 2019

Earlier, praising Lalremsiami’s decision, Rijiju tweeted, “Indian women hockey player Lalremsiami’s father expired when India was to play a crucial semifinal at Hiroshima that would determine if India’s Olympics dream would be alive. She told coach, ‘I want to make my father proud. I want to stay, play and make sure India qualifies”.

Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani also praised Lalremsiami’s decision and said that the team was trying their best to support her in the tough times.