It was never just about giving back to the game he played — it was about giving to sport itself.
That was Vece Paes — Olympian, doctor, mentor, and above all, a true sportsman at heart — who passed away this morning after a prolonged battle with age-related illnesses. He was 80.
“A multi-talented sportsman, Doc Paes is probably the only medical practitioner from India to win an Olympic medal,” remembered M.M. Somaya, a member of the 1980 gold medal-winning hockey team and captain of the Indian side at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. “Off the field, he was jovial and fun-loving. His contribution to Indian sport was immense.”
Born in Goa on April 30, 1945, Dr Paes went on to become part of India’s hockey bronze medal-winning squad at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Twenty-four years later, his son, the legendary Leander Paes, won bronze at Atlanta 1996 — the first and only Olympic medal for Indian tennis.
Always the guiding hand, Dr Paes mentored his son with quiet determination, standing by him through triumphs and trials alike. “It was a pleasure to know him well and serve alongside him on the Selection Committee in the early ’90s. He always offered a nuanced, balanced view,” Somaya said softly.
“He was an amazing physician — the team doctor when I played at the Athens Games in 2004,” recalled Viren Rasquinha, his voice tinged with affection.
Vece Paes also worked with the BCCI and Asian Cricket Council
At the Munich Games, Paes did not see much playing time, with Ajitpal Singh anchoring the centre-half position, P. Krishnamurthy at right-half, and Harmeek Singh at left-half. Yet, as a substitute half-back, he shared the Olympic stage with legends — Ganesh, Govinda, Ashok, and Harbinder among them.
Beyond hockey, Dr Paes’ expertise touched many arenas. He served in the BCCI’s anti-doping programme for several years, worked with the Asian Cricket Council, and was a long-time part of the Indian Davis Cup team’s medical staff.
A life rich in service to sport has now reached its final whistle. But Vece Paes leaves behind a legacy — not only in records and medals, but in the countless athletes whose journeys he quietly nurtured.
