PANJIM: Hilario, affectionately known as Hilary by family and friends, passed away on Wednesday. He was a dynamic goalkeeper and an avid badminton player, well-loved in the sports community.
Hilary was a regular at the old Indoor Stadium at Campal, playing badminton almost every day. He later transitioned back to football, playing at the club level. His passion for sports extended beyond personal participation; he was a dedicated organiser who balanced his business commitments to organise tournaments and events for both veterans and young talents.
As a veteran, Hilary never missed a tournament. He travelled extensively within Goa and represented Goa at the Veterans Nationals across India. When Goa hosted the Nationals, Hilary won two medals in the Veterans category, earning the honour to represent India at the BWF World Masters in Spain. Sadly, he had to withdraw due to Covid-related restrictions.
Hilary was a core organizing member and a supporter of various sports, including table tennis, badminton and football. His contributions to the sports community were invaluable and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.