By Prarthana Hazarika
When Lalremsiami decided to pursue hockey as a career, she did not have a pair of shoes to play in or a hockey stick of her own. Money was scarce, and the journey ahead was uncertain. What she had was her family’s support and an unwavering passion for the sport.
But as the young player from Mizoram moved towards her dream of representing India, she faced another challenge beyond the financial hardships — the language barrier.
Lalremsiami did not know Hindi or English when she entered the national hockey setup. In a camp where players from different parts of the country came together, communication and adjustment became an important part of her journey.
Determined to find her place in the unfamiliar environment, she learnt Hindi and English to communicate with her teammates and adapt to life in the national camp.
For Lalremsiami, learning a new language was another hurdle to overcome in her pursuit of a career in hockey. Alongside the demands of training and competition, she had to navigate a different linguistic and cultural environment while working towards her goal.
Her story reflects the challenges that young athletes from the Northeast can face when they move away from home to pursue sporting careers at the national level.
The struggle began even before she reached that stage. When Lalremsiami first thought of taking up hockey professionally, she lacked the basic equipment needed to play. Her family’s support and her determination helped her pursue the sport despite those limitations.
She knew the road would not be easy, but she was prepared to face the challenges that came her way.
Lalremsiami’s journey highlights a lesser-discussed aspect of elite sport: the adjustments athletes must make beyond the playing field. For players moving from different linguistic backgrounds, learning to communicate and settle into a new environment can be as important to their transition as adapting to the demands of high-performance hockey.
Her experience also underlines the importance of supportive sporting environments that help young athletes overcome cultural and communication barriers as they progress through the national system.
From starting out without proper equipment in Mizoram to learning new languages to fit into the Indian camp, Lalremsiami’s journey has been shaped by her willingness to confront unfamiliar challenges.
Her story is not just about reaching the national stage. It is about the determination to overcome the barriers that stand between a young athlete and her dream.
