When India’s women’s hockey player Lalremsiami Hmarzote, 26, better known to friends and rivals as Siami, recently scored the Asian Games gold medal-winning goal against China at the Gifu Stadium near Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, life came full circle for the hardworking striker.

It was in Japan, seven years ago, that Siami learnt of the sudden demise of her father back home in Mizoram, while the Indian women’s team was competing in the FIH Women’s Series in Hiroshima. Team India’s then coach Sjoerd Marijne immediately asked Siami to fly back home for the funeral, but the striker refused, insisting instead that she wanted to stay back and make her father proud by helping India win the tournament. She did, and helped India beat Chile 4-2 in the semi-finals, and thereafter, Japan 3-1 in the summit clash. It was a huge win because it helped keep alive India’s qualification hopes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Interestingly, this time, Siami helped Team India secure a double high in the same nation — an Asiad gold in women’s hockey after 44 years and direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.