It is with deep grief and sorrow I write this sorrowful piece on our friend the late Assumption Aguiar from Divar, died on 5th of this month. It was an unexpected death though we both of us were admittd in GMC together in the same Ward a few months back for different sicknesses.
After him, besides me, Goa is yet to produce such a finest athlete who in 1965 at Don Boosco Ground in the All Goa Athletics Meet he won greatest laulerls of his athletics genius when he won the individual championship by winning 3 first pleces in 100 mtrs, 200 mtrs., and 400 mtrs. That was the first time that some of the topmost athletes from Indian Millitary based in Goa were permitted to participate but our Goan young Aguiar, an student of Monte de Guirim, defeated every one of these top military personnel.
I was his greatest rival though in the above Meet I also participated as an student of St. Joseph’s High School Arpora but in Junior division while Aguiar was in senior division, winning myself all the three items as Aguiar won. Never we both of us competed against each other in any race anywhere in Goa but running without him as my competitor I ran fastest 100 mtres creating a record for Goa.
He had a few offers from top Business Houses from Bombay as an athlete in which capacity he made his school very proud.
He was a good footballer too playing for one of the top Bardez teams known as “Mapusa Juniors” in mid sixties.
Though we were rivals on the sports field yet outside we were good friends and when I went to Kuwait in 1975, having got the news of my coming to Kuwait, he came running to meet me as he was already there before me aand enquring about my needs.
In his death Goa has lost a great runner of which type we may not get another so soon. How shall we keep his memory alive? Or he too will go down as another forgotten hero?
May his soul Rest In Peace and may God give courage to his wife and children and all other family members to bear this colossal LOSS.
A.Veronica Fernandes.