Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Dr. Vece Paes, a member of India’s bronze medal-winning men’s hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, sports medicine pioneer, and father of tennis legend Leander Paes, passed away on August 14 morning in Kolkata. He was 80. His last rites will be performed either on August 18 or 19, as the family will wait for the arrival of his daughters, who are both settled abroad.
Dr. Paes, who had been battling advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease, was admitted to a city hospital on August 12. His death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian sports history — one that blended elite athletic performance with pioneering contributions to athlete health and sports administration.
Born in Goa in April 1945, Dr. Paes was a key member of the Indian men’s hockey team that won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. A gifted midfielder, he was known for his agility, game sense, and tireless work ethic. His Olympic success placed him among the country’s hockey elite during a time when India was transitioning from its golden era of dominance in the sport.
But Dr. Paes’s contribution to Indian sports extended far beyond the hockey field. A man of extraordinary versatility, he also played divisional-level football, cricket, and rugby, underlining his deep-rooted passion for athletics. His leadership in rugby culminated in his tenure as president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002, during which he played a crucial role in promoting the sport across the country.
