Former Iran weightlifter Manouchehr Boroumand has passed away at the age of 83 on Thursday.

Boroumand died after a long battle with disease in Tehran and will be laid to rest on Friday.

He was selected for the 1960 Summer Olympics, but withdrew in the last moment due to an illness; he also missed the 1962 Asian Games because Iran did not send a delegation there.

Boroumand took part at the 1964 Summer Olympics and finished in 12th place. He has his best achievements in 1966, when he won a gold medal at the Asian Games and became the first Asian weightlifter to cross the 500 kg barrier in the total.

The heavyweight weightlifter retired from competitions in 1968 and received a degree in coaching from the Polish Sports Academy in 1976.

Boroumand headed Iran Weightlifting Federation from 1979 to 1985.