Who Was Vece Paes? Remembering the Legendary Multi-Talented Sportsman
Vece Paes — Olympian, sports medicine pioneer, and father of tennis great Leander Paes — passed away on August 14, 2025, leaving behind a legacy that spanned far beyond the hockey field.
A member of India’s bronze medal–winning hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Vece redefined what it meant to be a sportsperson by merging athletic achievement with scientific innovation. His expertise in sports medicine and tireless work in anti-doping education set him apart as a true polymath in the world of sports.
Beyond hockey, Vece competed in cricket, football, and rugby at divisional levels, and served as President of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002. A qualified sports medicine doctor, he worked closely with the Asian Cricket Council and the BCCI on anti-doping awareness initiatives.
He also led the historic Calcutta Cricket and Football Club, one of the oldest sports institutions in the world.
Vece married Jennifer Dutton, former Indian basketball player and great-granddaughter of Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt. His son, Leander Paes, went on to become an Olympic medalist in tennis — making them the only father-son Olympic medal duo in Indian history.
The news of Vece’s passing sent ripples across the nation, with tributes pouring in from sports legends, administrators, and fans who remembered him as both an exceptional sportsman and an inspiring visionary.
