Leander Paes' Father and 1972 Olympic Medallist Vece Paes Dies

The sports community is mourning the loss of Dr. Vece Paes, an Olympic medallist and father of tennis star Leander Paes. Dr. Paes passed away at 80 years old on Thursday. He was a key midfielder during India's golden hockey era and part of the team that won bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Dr. Paes was battling advanced Parkinson's disease and had been under Woodlands Home Care Service for ten months. He was admitted to Woodlands Hospital on August 12 due to multiorgan dysfunction caused by infections in his respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

Legacy in Sports Medicine

Born in Goa in April 1945, Dr. Paes excelled both academically and athletically. Beyond his sports achievements, he was a doctor of sports medicine and served as president of the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club. His medical career began at NRS Medical College and Woodlands Hospital in the 1960s.

Dr. Paes also made significant contributions to football in India through sports medicine. As Chairman of the AIFF Medical Commission from 2003 to 2006, he developed comprehensive sports medicine programmes and centres, trained teams, and promoted the Peak Performance Programme with national teams across various age groups.

A Multifaceted Athlete

Besides hockey, Dr. Paes showcased his talents in cricket, football, and rugby. His passion for rugby led him to become president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. Rugby India acknowledged his dedication, stating that his legacy will continue to inspire Indian sports.

Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha expressed sorrow over Dr. Paes' passing, remembering him as an incredible human being who served as team doctor during the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Tributes from Sports Figures

FIH president Tayyab Ikram shared condolences: "Very saddened by the passing of former Indian player and Olympic bronze medalist Dr. Vece 'Doc' Paes." Dhanraj Pillayi also paid tribute: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Vece Paes... His legacy in Indian sports will live on."

Yusuf Pathan expressed his grief on X: "Saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Vece Paes... A great sportsperson and a wonderful human being." These sentiments reflect the profound impact Dr. Paes had on those around him.