Who is Vece Paes? Olympic Hockey Medalist & Sports Medicine Pioneer, Passes Away at 80

Dr. Vece Paes, an Olympic hockey bronze medalist and a stalwart of Indian sports medicine, passed away in Kolkata early this morning at the age of 80 after battling multiple age-related ailments, including Parkinson’s disease.

A distinguished figure both on and off the field, Dr. Paes combined sporting brilliance with academic excellence, helping athletes across disciplines for decades. He won a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics and later became a highly respected sports medicine expert, assisting hockey, cricket, tennis, and football players throughout his career.

He was also the father and mentor of tennis legend Leander Paes, managing his career and serving as the Indian Davis Cup team doctor for ten years. The father-son duo was one of India’s most celebrated sporting partnerships.

Former teammate Ajit Pal Singh recalled, “He was so dedicated to sports medicine that he fully concentrated on it after his hockey career. He had helped a number of Indian athletes in his sports medicine career.”

Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha paid tribute, writing on X, “They do not make them like Doc anymore. So knowledgeable, so warm, so kind, so humble, so jovial. Always willing to help. Always joking around. I will forever miss you Doc.”

Apart from hockey, Dr. Paes played divisional-level football, cricket, and rugby, later serving as President of the Indian Rugby Union (1996–2002). He was also part of the BCCI’s anti-doping program, worked with the Asian Cricket Council, East Bengal football club, and athletes like Bhaichung Bhutia.

His colleagues and teammates, including B. P. Govinda and Harbinder Singh, remembered him as a “true gentleman” and an inspirational figure whose contribution to Indian sports extended far beyond his playing days.