Kolkata, Aug 14 (PTI): Dr. Vece Paes, a celebrated figure in Indian sports history and father of tennis legend Leander Paes, passed away Thursday morning in Kolkata due to age-related complications. He was 80.
Paes, who had been battling Parkinson's disease, was admitted to Woodlands Hospital on Tuesday. His funeral will be conducted on Monday or Tuesday, awaiting the arrival of his daughters from abroad.
Married to Jennifer, a former captain of the Indian basketball team, Paes was a versatile athlete before transitioning to sports medicine. He played a pivotal role as a midfielder in the Indian men’s hockey team, securing a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Born in Goa in April 1945, Paes demonstrated excellence in both academia and sports during his formative years. His sports career extended beyond hockey; he played football, cricket, and rugby at the divisional level.
Paes held the prestigious position of president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. He later contributed his expertise as a sports medicine consultant to several organizations, including the Asian Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Notably, Paes was also part of the Indian hockey team that clinched bronze at the 1971 World Cup in Barcelona. However, the 1972 Olympic bronze remains his career-defining moment.
The 1972 Munich Olympics are forever marked by tragedy due to the massacre of Israeli athletes, which overshadowed the Games. Post-retirement, Paes served as the team doctor for the Indian Davis Cup team for ten years, managing his son Leander's illustrious career.
Under Leander's reign, Indian tennis reached unparalleled success, marked by 18 Grand Slam titles, including eight men's doubles and ten mixed doubles titles. Leander also secured a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, continuing the family legacy.
Leander became the first Asian male tennis player inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey mourned Paes' passing, describing it as the end of a glorious era in Indian hockey.
Tirkey expressed his sorrow, stating, "Dr. Paes' demise draws curtains on a great era of hockey. The Munich Olympic medal stands as a testament to their resilience. Meeting him reinforced my belief in the importance of a sporting culture in our country."
Paes had resonant ties with Kolkata's Anglo-Indian community and contributed to renowned Kolkata football clubs Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting. He provided his expertise to the East Bengal football team, working alongside icons like Bhaichung Bhutia.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Jennifer, son Leander, and the entire Paes family during this difficult time. Dr. Vece Paes’ legacy in Indian sports will endure.
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