Dr. Vece Paes, a famous Indian hockey player and Olympic medalist, has died at the age of 80. On Thursday morning, the former great Indian hockey player, a charming midfielder who lit up the Kolkata Maidan, passed away quietly.
Paes was an important part of the Indian squad that won a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He also won a bronze medal at the first World Cup in Barcelona in 1971, which was a big deal in his career.
A Family of Sports Champions
Paes was born in Goa in April 1945 and was quite good at both school and sports. He was married to Jennifer Paes, who used to be the captain of the Indian basketball team, and he was the proud father of tennis star Leander Paes. They are the only father-son pair to have both won individual Olympic bronze medals. Leander got his at the Atlanta Games in 1996.
“It’s a sad day for Hockey India.” The death of Dr. Paes ends a magnificent time in hockey. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey remarked, “The Olympic medal in Munich shows how tough and determined they are.” “I was lucky enough to meet him a few times, and I’ve always been inspired by how much he loves athletics in general. He was a strong supporter of bringing sports culture to the country.
A Life Devoted to Sports and Science
Paes was a doctor by training and became a specialist in sports medicine outside of hockey. He shared his knowledge with a number of sports organizations, such as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He was a key player in the BCCI and Indian Super League’s anti-doping initiatives and helped with the BCCI’s campaign to check players’ ages.
He came up with and ran programs at the AIFF to measure the strength and fitness of national teams. In the late 1990s, he was also the fitness consultant for the East Bengal football club.
He loved sports, not just hockey. Paes played rugby, cricket, and football in the league. Because he loved rugby so much, he was the president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. He was also the president of the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club.
“On behalf of Hockey India, we send our deepest condolences to Leander, his mother, and their family,” stated Bhola Nath Singh, the secretary general of HI. “People will always remember his accomplishments in sports and sports science, and his legacy will live on forever.”
Paes lived in Kolkata for a long time and enjoyed the city very much. He said that it made him both a doctor and an athlete. His accomplishments, both on and off the field, will continue to motivate many players and sports fans for years to come.