Weightlifting chief coach Sunil Lal Joshi on Sunday passed away due to heart attack. Joshi, 53, was pronounced dead early 0n Sunday morning.

Joshi is survived by a wife and son. Joshi represented Nepali seven consecutive South Asian Games (SAG) since its inception in 1984.

He has won 17 medals in the regional meet including six silver and 11 bronze. He also represented Nepal during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

He was the president of Nepal Olympian Association and vice president of Nepal Weightlifting Association.

He turned to coaching after competing in the seventh SA Games in Madras in 1995.

He was promoted to senior coach in January 2007 before being named chief coach recently.

 Joshi’s body was kept at the National Sports Council in Tripureswor on Sunday. He was cremated at the Pashupati Aryaghat later in the day.