Delhi: Dr. Wes Paes, father of Indian tennis star Leander Paes and veteran hockey player, died early Thursday. He was 80 years old and was ill for a long time. According to reports, his limbs stopped working at around 3 am on Thursday morning. He breathed his last at his home in Kolkata. Dr. Paes was struggling with Parkinson’s disease for the last several years.

Hockey stars

Born in Goa on 30 April 1945, Dr. Wes Paes was the midfielder of the Indian hockey team. He was an important member of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Apart from hockey, he also showed his talent in cricket, football and rugby. He also played an active role in the sports administration and from 1996 to 2002 he held the post of President of the Indian Rugby Football Association.

A deep connection with family game

Dr. Wes Paes was married to former Indian basketball player Jennifer Paes. He also carried forward passion and dedication to sports in his family, as a result of which his son Leander Paes’s magnificent tennis career came out.

Important contribution to medical field

Outside the field, Dr. Paes’s sports contributed significantly in the world. He was an expert in sports injury, fitness and doping prevention. He, along with the Asian Cricket Council and BCCI, conducted several anti-doping programs. Throughout his life, he inspired the players and worked for his better performance.

Unique Olympic Couple

Dr. Wes Paes and Leander Paes are the only father-son pair in the world who won the Olympic medals. Dr. Paes won the bronze medal in hockey in 1972, while Leander Paes won the bronze medal in tennis at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Leander also wrote a golden chapter in Indian tennis history by winning 18 Grand Slam titles. He announced his retirement in 2020.