Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal Conferred Arjuna Award 2025 for Contributions to Indian Hockey

Indian hockey has added two more names to its long list of national sporting honours, with Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal being named recipients of the prestigious Arjuna Award 2025.

Hockey India congratulated the two players after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the list of awardees. The duo are among 17 sportspersons from different disciplines selected for the 2025 Arjuna Award, with the honours set to be conferred by the President of India at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

For both players, the recognition represents the culmination of years of consistent performances for the Indian national teams. The Arjuna Award is India's second-highest sporting honour and recognises outstanding performance over a sustained period, while also taking into account qualities such as leadership, sportsmanship and discipline.

For Lalremsiami, the honour adds another significant chapter to a career that has seen her become a mainstay of the Indian women's hockey team. Hailing from Kolasib, Mizoram, Lalremsiami made her senior international debut in 2017. Since then, the forward has established herself as an important part of India's women's hockey programme and has represented the country at major international competitions.

One of the defining moments of her career came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where India reached the women's hockey semifinals before finishing fourth. Lalremsiami was part of the historic campaign that brought the Indian women's team within touching distance of an Olympic medal. Her international career has also included appearances at multiple World Cups, Asian Games and Asian Champions Trophy tournaments.

At the Asian Games, Lalremsiami has been part of Indian teams that won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022. She has also contributed to India's success in the Asian Champions Trophy, featuring in the gold-medal-winning campaigns of 2023 and 2024. Her medal-winning record extends to continental and global competitions, including India's gold-medal campaigns at the 2017 Women's Asia Cup and the 2022 and 2026 FIH Hockey Nations Cup.

The Arjuna Award therefore recognises not one individual tournament but a sustained period of contribution to the Indian women's team.

Rajkumar Pal’s emergence in midfield

Rajkumar Pal has followed a different but equally significant path to the national team. The midfielder from Karampur, Uttar Pradesh, made his international debut in 2020 and has since become an important component of the Indian men's midfield. His career includes one of Indian hockey's most significant recent achievements being part of the men's team that won a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal at Paris 2024.

Rajkumar has also played a role in India's success at the Asian Champions Trophy, including the team's gold-medal-winning campaign in 2024. He produced one of his most memorable international performances during that tournament in China, scoring a hat-trick against Malaysia. The midfielder was also part of the Indian team that won the 2025 Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, adding another major international title to his growing list of achievements.

His progression since his international debut in 2020 has established him as one of the important midfield options in India's men's hockey setup.

Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey described the awards as a proud moment for Indian hockey and highlighted the consistency and dedication demonstrated by both players.

“It is a proud moment for Indian hockey to see Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal conferred with the Arjuna Award,” Tirkey said.

He added that the recognition was a fitting tribute to their hard work and commitment to representing the country and wished both players continued success in the seasons ahead. Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also praised the pair, describing them as dependable performers for India.

According to Singh, their recognition reflects the depth of talent across India's men's and women's hockey programmes. He also expressed hope that the honour would motivate the two players while inspiring young athletes across the country to take up hockey.

The Arjuna Award has a long association with Indian hockey. Introduced in 1961 to recognise outstanding sporting achievement, the award has been presented to several generations of Indian hockey players.

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The list includes legendary figures such as Prithipal Singh and players associated with the era of Dhyan Chand, while more recent recipients include Harmanpreet Singh, Rani, Savita, PR Sreejesh, Manpreet Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay and Salima Tete.

Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal now become part of that distinguished lineage. Their inclusion also underlines the breadth of India's current hockey programme. Lalremsiami represents the consistency and resilience of the women's team, while Rajkumar has emerged as an important figure in a men's side that has continued to produce major results on the international stage.

For both athletes, the Arjuna Award is recognition of what they have already achieved, but it also comes with the opportunity to inspire the next generation.

Lalremsiami's journey from Mizoram to the Olympic stage and Rajkumar Pal's rise from Uttar Pradesh to India's medal-winning men's team demonstrate two different pathways to the highest level of international hockey.

Now, their names will sit alongside some of the country's greatest hockey players in the history of the Arjuna Award.

For Indian hockey, it is another moment to celebrate two players who have consistently worn the national colours with distinction and another reminder of the talent continuing to emerge across the country's men's and women's programmes.