Hockey great Vece Paes, 80, no more
An unshakable pillar of Indian sports, Paes leaves behind a legacy of achievements both on and off the field, motivating countless athletes and sports admirers.
'It is a sad day for us in Hockey India. The passing of Dr Paes draws curtains on a great era of hockey. The Olympic medal in Munich is a testament to their grit and determination. I had the good fortune of meeting him a few times and I have always been inspired by his passion for sports in general,' Hockey India (HI) president Dilip Tirkey said.
'He was a great advocate of inculcating sporting culture in the country. We at Hockey India express our deepest condolences to his wife Jennifer, son Leander and their whole family. We stand together in their grief.'
Paes was the husband of former basketball player Jennifer Paes and father of tennis great Leander Paes. He was also a doctor in sports medicine and had worked with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the anti-doping and age verification programmes for several years.
Also Read:The parent-coach relationship is symbiotic in a child's life: Vece Paes
HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh too expressed his condolences, and said, 'On behalf of Hockey India, we extend our deepest condolences to Leander, his mother and their family. His achievements in sports and sports science will always be remembered and his legacy will live on forever.'
Born in Goa in April 1945, Paes was exceptional in both sports and academics. Beyond his athletic achievements, he also served as the president of the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club.
In addition to hockey, he showed his skills by playing divisional cricket, football, and rugby. His love for rugby led him to become the president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002.
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