Jennifer Paes Dies: Olympian and Mother of Leander Paes Passes Away at 72
Former India basketball captain and Olympian Jennifer Paes has passed away at the age of 72 following a long battle with cancer. The mother of tennis legend Leander Paes and widow of hockey Olympian Vece Paes, her death marks the end of an era for one of India's most celebrated sporting families.
The Indian sporting fraternity is in mourning following the death of former national basketball captain and Olympian Jennifer Paes. She passed away on Sunday, 17 May 2026, at the age of 72 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Her family confirmed the news of her demise, which prompted widespread condolences from sports administrators, athletes, and political figures across the country. Known for her immense contribution to women's sports in India, her passing follows less than a year after the death of her husband, former Indian field hockey star Dr Vece Paes, who passed away in August 2025.
A Legacy in Indian Basketball
Long before she was widely recognised as the mother of Indian tennis icon Leander Paes, Jennifer Paes (nÊe Dutton) had established herself as a trailblazer in Indian women's basketball during the 1970s and early 1980s. She represented India at the 1972 Munich Olympics, competing alongside her husband who was part of the bronze-winning hockey team.
She subsequently went on to captain the Indian national team, most notably leading the country at the Asian Basketball Championships between 1980 and 1982. Her leadership and disciplined approach on the court served as a major inspiration for generations of female athletes in an era when women's sports received minimal institutional support.
Family History and Connections
Born into a family with deep cultural and sporting roots, she was the great-granddaughter of the renowned 19th-century Bengali poet and dramatist Michael Madhusudan Dutt. Her uncle, Garney Nyss, was also a highly accomplished multi-sport athlete in pre-independence India.
Her marriage to Vece Paes unified two Olympic legacies, which eventually extended to a second generation. Their son, Leander Paes, grew up to become one of the most successful tennis players in international history, winning a historic singles bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The Paes household represents a rare and extraordinary instance in Indian sporting history where the father, mother, and child have all represented the nation at the Olympic Games.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2026 11:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
