Indian sport has lost one of its unobtrusive cornerstones with the death on Thursday of Olympic bronze medal-winning hockey player Dr. Vece Paes, a celebrity sports medicine expert, and father of tennis superstar Leander Paes. He was 80 years old and had been under treatment for advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease at a severe stage in a Kolkata hospital since Tuesday.
Dr Vece Paes, member of the bronze medal-winning Indian men's hockey team squad from 1972 Munich Olympics, and father of Indian tennis legend Leander, has passed away at the age of 80.
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The Hockey Player Who Made Olympic History
Born in April 1945 in Goa, Vece Paes developed into a multi-talented sportsman much before he went on to become a renowned doctor. He was part of the Indian men’s hockey team that won a bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics – a feat etched in the country’s sporting history. Paes was an attacking midfielder with a tactical sense and a steady presence, the type of player who put together attacks and defended as steadily.
Although hockey made him a global name, he was by no means the only sport he was excellent in. He represented his country at competitive levels in football, cricket, and rugby, a reflection of his sporting versatility. His passion for rugby later resulted in his being president of the Indian Rugby Football Union between 1996 and 2002.
From Athlete to Healer
After retiring from playing, Paes applied his discipline and sporting expertise to medicine. He qualified as a sports medicine expert, joining medical science with an insider’s knowledge of what the athlete requires. As a sought-after consultant, he worked for the Asian Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Indian Davis Cup tennis team over the years.
His specialty wasn’t only about fixing injuries—Paes was famous for his complete system approach, with attention given to prevention, rehabilitation, and mental readiness. Athletes from all sports relied on his counsel, not just because of his qualifications, but also because he had walked in their footsteps.
A Life in Sports Administration
Paes’s contribution to Indian sport extended beyond the court and clinic. He took on leadership positions at institutions like the venerable Calcutta Cricket and Football Club, where he fought to conserve traditions while accommodating the requirements of contemporary sport. His role in sports administration embodied the same principles he brought as a player – fairness, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.
Family of Champions
Vece Paes’s wife, Jennifer Paes, was a captain of the Indian basketball team, and theirs became one of the most successful sporting families in India. Their son Leander Paes won an Olympic bronze medal in tennis and several Grand Slam titles, frequently attributing his father’s strictness and motivation as driving forces in his career.
Final Days and Legacy
In recent times, Paes fought Parkinson’s disease with courage. His health had taken a steep nosedive early this week, and he was admitted in a Kolkata hospital where he passed away quietly on Thursday.
Although his name may not have had top-of-the-page daily headlines, the scope of Vece Paes’s contribution to Indian sport cannot be measured. He was an Olympian who earned national pride, a doctor who protected the career of innumerable players, and an administrator who deeply loved the games he administered.
Dr. Vece Paes’s life is that of adaptability, service, and unassuming greatness. His death creates a void, but his impact shall endure in the players he groomed, the institutions he consolidated, and the legacy his family continues to uphold.
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