Vece Paes

Born into a medical family, Vece Paes eventually became a noted sports physician and medical expert, as well as a good field hockey player. Paes was encouraged to take up the sport whilst studying at St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata. In 1966 he joined the East Bengal hockey team, playing for the side for the next 13 years and making his début for the national team in the same year. In 1971 he won bronze at the Hockey World Cup in Barcelona before being selected as part of India’s team for the 1972 München Olympics, although he did not play at the Games.

In 1991 Paes worked as a sports medical consultant for the All India Tennis Association before working in the same role for the All India Football Federation from 1996 to 2001. He was also the team doctor for the Indian Olympic delegation at the Games in Sydney and Athens. From 2001 onwards he was involved in cricket as an anti-doping consultant, first with the Asian Cricket Council, then with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Paes also worked with the Indian Davis Cup team, with his son Leander becoming a noted doubles player who competed at seven Olympic Games, winning bronze in the singles in 1996 in Atlanta.