Veteran Iranian heavyweight weightlifter and former President of the Iran Weightlifting Federation, Manouchehr Boroumand, has passed away at the age of 83 after a long battle with disease.
Boroumand, who was born on March 26, 1934 in the northern Iranian city of Babolsar, located 226 kilometers (140 miles) north of the Iranian capital city of Tehran, died there on Thursday, and was laid to rest the following day.
He was selected for the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, but withdrew in the last moment due to an illness.
Boroumand took part at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Toyo, Japan, and finished in the 12th place.
He won a gold medal at the 1966 Asian Games in the Thai capital city of Bangkok, and became the first Asian weightlifter to cross the 500-kilogramg barrier in the total.
Boroumand retired from competitions in 1968, and received a degree in coaching from the Polish Sports Academy in 1976.
He headed the Iran Weightlifting Federation between 1979 and 1985.
Meanwhile, Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Massoud Soltanifar has extended his condolences to Boroumand’s bereaved family in a message.
