Leander Paes' 1972 Olympics bronze medallist father, Dr Vece Paes passes away

Dr. Vece Paes, a member of India’s bronze medal-winning hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics and father of tennis legend Leander Paes, passed away on August 14 (Thursday) morning at the age of 80. Dr. Paes had been battling an advanced stage of Parkinson's disease and was admitted to Woodlands Hospital on August 12 (Tuesday) morning.

Vece was married to Jennifer Paes, who is a former professional Indian basketball player who also captained the Indian national team.

His last rites are expected to be performed on either Monday or Tuesday (August 18 or 19), as the family awaits the arrival of his daughters, who are currently living abroad.

Vece, who donned multiple hats in his long association with Indian sports, was a midfielder in the Indian hockey team. He also played several sports such as football, cricket and rugby and served as the president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002.

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“Vece made his debut when I was the captain. He was a great team man and played different sports, including cricket, football and rugby. We played together for Mohun Bagan for 13 years and won nine Beighton Cups and nine Calcutta League titles. He was well-built and had the energy to go up and down the field. It’s unfair that he was not selected for the 1968 Olympics, but he got his chances in the 1971 World Cup (where India bagged a bronze) and 1972 Olympics,” his long-time friend and 1964 Olympics gold medallist Gurbux Singh said, quoted by The Hindu.

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“Vece was soft spoken and a fine gentleman. I cannot compare him with any doctor. If he gave medicine to someone, he would sit with the person and wait to see how the medicine worked.”

Not just limited to hockey

A qualified sports medicine doctor, Dr. Paes worked as a medical consultant with several prominent sports bodies, including the Asian Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Indian Davis Cup team.

Leander carries the Paes legacy

His son, Leander Paes, carried forward the family’s sporting legacy, becoming India’s most successful tennis player with 18 Grand Slam titles — eight in men’s doubles and ten in mixed doubles. Leander also clinched a bronze medal in men's singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, continuing the family’s Olympic medal tradition.