India, Aug. 14 -- Dr. Vece Paes, a member of India's bronze medal-winning men's hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, sports medicine pioneer, and father of tennis legend Leander Paes, passed away on Thursday morning in Kolkata. He was 80.

Dr. Paes, who had been battling advanced-stage Parkinson's disease, was admitted to a city hospital on Tuesday. His death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian sports history - one that blended elite athletic performance with pioneering contributions to athlete health and sports administration.

Born in Goa in April 1945, Dr. Paes was a key member of the Indian men's hockey team that won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. A gifted midfielder, he was known for his agility, g...