M.M. Somaya remembers his friend Vece Paes, the ‘Good Doc’ of Indian sports

My first meeting with Doc was in 1981, on the eve of the Calcutta (now Kolkata) match during the India-Pakistan Test series. He had come over to our team hotel with his little son to wish us the best. In the middle of our banter and conversation, Doc realised he had to visit some of his patients.

“I’m leaving Leander with you chaps. Give him a feel of what it is like to be part of an Indian team. Will come by to pick him up later in the day,” said Doc, and he zoomed off. It was a fun day for Leander as we took him along through our daily drill. Doc’s friendly demeanour despite his seniority, and Leander’s interest to learn, struck a chord. It was the beginning of a special friendship with father and son.

The very next year, in 1982, I was representing my then-employers, Mahindra & Mahindra, in the Aga Khan tournament in Bombay (now Mumbai). In the semifinals, we were up against the formidable Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), comprising almost the entire Pakistan national team that had won the World Cup earlier that year.

After going toe-to-toe with them in a high-paced match, we lost 1-2 to a late goal. As we trudged back into the Bombay Gymkhana dressing room, a disheartened lot, we noticed a gift-wrapped parcel for the team. It turned out to be a crate of canned beer with a congratulatory note from Doc Paes. It certainly lifted our spirits! The empathy shown for the losing team by a senior pro, who just happened to be a spectator that day, further enhanced my respect for the man.

After my playing career, in 1989, I was appointed to the National Selection Committee that comprised Doc Paes, among other stalwarts. His clarity of thought, without an iota of bias, positively influenced decision-making. I got to know him better, and we hung out some evenings together. He spoke about Leander’s passion to excel in tennis at the highest level.

Sponsorship by corporate houses for individual athletes did not exist then. Doc decided to sacrifice his medical practice for some years to manage Leander’s career and tap every possible source to generate finances. He had identified Gene Mayer in the USA, a top-rung coach, to fine-tune Leander’s technical skills. Mayer charged a then-hefty fee of 1,000 USD for a single session. Doc somehow scrambled together the resources to make it happen. Looking back, it was critical interventions like these that set Leander up, ultimately earning him a place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

In time, Doc Paes became the face of sports medicine in India. His deep knowledge enabled him to add scientific temper to training, fitness, and recovery. Besides hockey, his expertise was sought in a wide range of games, including cricket, football, and rugby. He played a key role in setting protocols to detect age fraud and deter those taking performance-enhancing substances.

Despite his many accomplishments in sport and in the medical profession, Doc remained accessible and fun-loving. After he moved from Kolkata to Mumbai, there were more occasions for us to meet. The chemistry he shared with Leander was not confined to the tennis court — he was always on hand to guide and mentor his son through life’s challenges.

While I used to meet Doc off and on, I had not met Leander since he had embarked on his quest for excellence. Then, a decade and a half ago, an exhibition football match in Mumbai saw Leander and me in the same team. I was meeting him after many years and post his meteoric career. I was relieved that he remembered me! In fact, I was disarmed by his humility and genuineness.

Over the years, I have met him more often and observed that he is a chip off the old block — charming and extremely respectful to people from every walk of life. Precisely the values that endeared Doc Paes to one and all.

Thankful to the Good Doc for giving India a world champion in Leander and instilling in him a strong set of values. And just as importantly, our gratitude to Doc for his immense contribution to Indian sport in a multitude of ways.

M. M. Somaya was a member of India’s gold medal-winning hockey team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and later captained the side at the 1988 Seoul Games.

Published on Aug 25, 2025