Kolkata, Aug 14 — Dr. Vece Paes, a distinguished member of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games bronze-winning Indian men's hockey team and father of iconic tennis player Leander Paes, passed away on Thursday morning due to age-related ailments. He was 80.
Paes, who was also battling Parkinson's disease, had been admitted to the Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday morning.
His last rites will take place on either Monday or Tuesday, as the family is awaiting the arrival of his two daughters, who reside abroad.
He was married to Jennifer, a former captain of the Indian basketball team.
In his multifaceted career within Indian sports, Paes excelled as a midfielder in the Indian hockey team.
He also played various other sports, including football, cricket, and rugby at the divisional level and held the position of president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002.
Born in Goa in April 1945, Paes was remarkable in both sports and academics, and after his successful hockey career, he pursued a career in sports medicine.
He consulted with several sports organizations, such as the Asian Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the Indian Davis Cup team.
Paes was also part of the Indian hockey team that clinched a bronze medal at the 1971 World Cup in Barcelona, but his crowning achievement was undoubtedly the Olympic medal earned the following year.
The 1972 Olympics are somberly remembered for the tragic massacre of 11 Israeli athletes by a Palestinian militant group, which led to a four-day suspension of the event.
After retiring from his hockey career, Paes served as the team doctor for the Indian Davis Cup squad for a decade and was also Leander's manager. Leander’s foray into tennis was driven by his father's encouragement.
Leander Paes elevated Indian tennis to remarkable heights, becoming the country's most successful player by clinching 18 Grand Slam titles, comprised of eight men's doubles and ten mixed doubles victories.
He also secured the men's singles bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, continuing his family’s tradition of Olympic success. He was the first Asian male tennis player inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Hockey India President and former defender Dilip Tirkey acknowledged that Paes senior's passing marks the end of a glorious era in Indian sports.
"It's a sad day for us at Hockey India. Dr. Paes' passing draws the curtain on a great era of hockey. The Munich Olympic medal stands as a testament to their grit and determination," Tirkey stated.
"I had the good fortune of meeting him a few times, and I was always inspired by his passion for sports. He strongly advocated for promoting a sports culture in the country.
"We in Hockey India extend our deepest condolences to his wife Jennifer, son Leander, and the entire family. We stand with them in their grief," Tirkey added.
Paes also represented the hockey teams of Kolkata's football giants Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting during the '70s and '80s. He worked with the East Bengal football team and players such as Bhaichung Bhutia at the behest of the club's then coach, Subhas Bhowmick.
Paes was also a prominent figure within Kolkata's vibrant Anglo-Indian community.
Another Indian tennis legend, Sania Mirza, remarked that Paes' contributions to Indian sports were invaluable, and he was always accessible.
"I have known Dr. Vece Paes for nearly 25 years. He served as the Indian Team Doctor during the 2002 Busan Asian Games and worked frequently with the national team at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympics over the years," said Mirza.
"As a former world-class hockey player himself, he understood the mindset of a professional athlete, helping him diagnose and treat his sporting patients effectively," she noted.
"A thorough gentleman and a proud Indian, Uncle Vece will be profoundly missed not just by tennis players but by the entire sporting community in our country. May God grant Leander and his family the fortitude to endure this irreparable loss."
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