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Olympics bronze medalist Indian hockey legend Vece Paes passes away

Olympics bronze medalist Indian hockey legend Vece Paes passes away

News183 hours ago
New Delhi [India], August 14 (ANI): Indian hockey legend and Olympic bronze medalist Vece Paes, also the father of tennis legend Leander Paes, passed away on Thursday morning. The official X of Hockey India (HI) announced his unfortunate demise at the age of 80. 'Dr. Vece Paes, a true sports icon, sadly passed away this morning. His achievements on and off the field inspired generations. As a member of the 1972 Munich Olympics bronze-winning team, he made India proud. His legacy will live on. #RIPVecePaes #HockeyIndia." https://x.com/TheHockeyIndia/status/1955859094197149797 In the statement issued on their official website minutes later, Hockey India termed Vece as a 'charismatic" midfielder from the 'golden era of Indian Hockey". Vece helped India earn their sole medal of the 1972 Olympics at Munich, Germany, a bronze medal in field hockey. India secured the bronze medal by beating the Netherlands in a well-contested match 2-1 in September 1972. Germany went on to win the gold, while Pakistan won the silver. He also represented India in the Hockey World Cup, a part of the 1971 team which finished third in Barcelona. 24 years after his achievement, Laender made his father proud with a men's singles bronze medal in tennis during the 1996 Olympics Games, making him the first-ever Asian to secure an Olympic medal in the sport and only Indian till date. '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. He was a great advocate of inculcating a 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," expressed Dr Dilip Tirkey, President, Hockey India in a statement.Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh too expressed his deepest 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, Dr Paes was exceptional in both sports and academics. Beyond his athletic achievements, he was also a doctor of sports medicine and served as president of the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club. His son, Leander Paes, often spoke of his father's influence and inspiration in shaping his own sporting career, particularly his passion for representing India at the Olympics. 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. (ANI)
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Olympics hockey medallist and father of tennis player Leander Paes, Dr Vece Paes, dies at 80
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Olympics hockey medallist and father of tennis player Leander Paes, Dr Vece Paes, dies at 80

Former Indian hockey player Dr Vece Paes, father of tennis star Leander Paes, passed away at the age of 80 at a private hospital in Kolkata on Thursday. Dr Paes was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday with multi-organ dysfunction due to lower respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract infections. According to the hospital, he had been under its home care services for the past ten months as a long-term patient of Parkinson's disease, and had been bed-bound for an extended period. 'Despite the best medical efforts, Dr Paes breathed his last in the early hours of August 14, 2025,' the hospital said in a statement. Born in Goa in 1945, Dr Paes studied a pre-medical course at Presidency College in Kolkata from 1964-65, and had earlier attended La Martiniere College in Lucknow. He began his medical practice at NRS Medical College and Woodlands Hospital in the 1960s. A member of the Indian hockey team that won bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Dr Paes also played football, cricket, and rugby, and served as president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. In addition, he worked as a medical consultant with the Asian Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the Indian Davis Cup team. Family sources said his last rites will be held on Monday or Tuesday, as the family is waiting for the arrival of his daughters from abroad. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed condolences on social media: 'Saddened by the demise of Dr Vece Paes, member of the bronze medal winning team at the 1972 Olympic Games. His contribution to hockey and sports medicine will be remembered. My condolences to his family, including Leander, his friends and the members of the many clubs of Kolkata he was associated with.' Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari also posted: 'It is with a heavy heart I received the sad news of the passing of Dr. Vece Paes, a true icon of Indian sports and an Olympic Bronze Medallist in Hockey at the 1972 Munich Games. Dr Paes, who left us at the age of 80, was not only a stellar athlete but also a pioneering Sports Medicine Expert whose contributions shaped Indian sports.' 'As the father of tennis legend Leander Paes, he was part of a rare father-son duo who both won Olympic medals, bringing immense pride to our nation. His work with the Asian Cricket Council, BCCI, and the Indian Davis Cup team, along with his leadership as President of the Indian Rugby Football Union, left an indelible mark on sports administration and medicine. I mourn the loss of this remarkable soul whose legacy will continue to inspire generations,' Adhikari continued in his post.

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