Vece Paes, a member of 1972 Olympics bronze medallist Indian hockey team and father of tennis legend Leander Paes, dies at the age of 80 on Thursday. Vece was suffering from age related problems and breathed his last at a private hospital in Kolkata on midnight.

Paes, who was suffering from advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease, was admitted to a city hospital on Tuesday morning. Vece, who donned multiple hats in his long association with Indian sports, was a midfielder in the Indian hockey team.

In the 1972 Olympics in Munich, India lost to Pakistan in the semifinals before winning against Netherlands to come home with a bronze medal. Besides hockey, Vece also played several other sports such as football, cricket and rugby.

Vece had even served as the president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. He was also a sports medicine doctor and worked as a medical consultant with several sports bodies including the Asian Cricket Council, the BCCI and the Indian Davis Cup team.

Vece Paes leaves a legacy behind

Born in Goa in 1945, Vece had immense contribution to Indian sports. He studied sports medicine in Kolkata and his medical background helped him understand and address the health challenges faced by the athletes, thus earning him a widespread recognition.

His work also helped establish new standards in athletic healthcare and anti doping practices in India. with his death, Vece leaves a legacy beind, inspiring generations of athletes and administrators alike.

Former Indian hockey star Viren Rasquinha mourned the passing of Vece. “Very sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Vece Paes. He was a midfielder with the team that won the bronze medal at 1972 Munich Olympics. An amazing Sports Physician, he was team doctor when I played at Athens 2004. Incredible human being. RIP Doc. Thank you for everything,” he said.