Vece Paes, former Indian hockey player and father of tennis legend Leander Paes, passed away at the age of 80 in Kolkata. A key member of the bronze medal-winning hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Paes also contributed to India’s bronze at the 1971 Hockey World Cup in Barcelona. He had been battling advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease and was admitted to Woodlands Hospital on Tuesday morning.

Born with a natural talent for sports, Vece Paes excelled in multiple disciplines including football, cricket, and rugby. He was a midfielder in the national hockey team and later served as president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. His commitment to sports extended to medicine, working as a sports medicine doctor and medical consultant for the Asian Cricket Council, BCCI, and the Indian Davis Cup team.

Paes was married to Jennifer Paes, former captain of the Indian women’s basketball team. His son, Leander Paes, went on to become India’s most successful tennis player with 18 Grand Slam titles eight in men’s doubles and ten in mixed doubles alongside a bronze medal in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, echoing his father’s Olympic success. Paes’ last rites will be held early next week, awaiting the arrival of his daughters from abroad. His passing marks the end of an era for Indian sports, leaving behind a legacy of passion, versatility, and achievement.