Not many know that Dr Vece Paes — 1972 Olympic hockey bronze medallist and father of tennis icon Leander Paes — had a long-standing connection with Indian cricket too.
A stalwart in sports medicine, Dr Paes served as a medical consultant for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Asian Cricket Council for decades, overseeing anti-doping education and player welfare. His expertise was sought at ATP tennis tournaments, Davis Cup ties, and even the Indian Super League (ISL).
In 2021, a special cricket tournament — the Dr Vece Paes Cricket Cup — was launched in his honour at the historic Calcutta Cricket and Football Club (CC&FC). Leander Paes himself turned up in pads for the Doctors’ XI, teaming up with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan to celebrate his father’s legacy. The event is now an annual Republic Day tradition in Kolkata.
From Olympic glory to shaping sports medicine in India, Dr Vece Paes leaves behind a legacy that spans far beyond the hockey field.
