Dr Hj Danish Zaheer has died at the age of 57 ©AKK Design

The President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BNOC) has paid tribute after a well respected medical official died.

Dr Hj Danish Zaheer, the head of the Sport Medicine and Research Centre (SMRC) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, passed away suddenly at the age of 57.

The international renowned doctor, from Pakistan, had been working in Brunei for 23 years.

He was elected as President of the Asian Federation of Sports Medicine in December after working for the Ministry in 1994.

Dr Hj Danish Zaheer helped Brunei athletes across the world ©Getty Images
Dr Hj Danish Zaheer helped Brunei athletes across the world ©Getty Images

He has travelled around to world to treat Brunei athletes at various sporting events, including last month's Southeast Asian Games (SEA) in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Zaheer was a member of the SEA Games' Medical Committee and was also the deputy chairman of the Sports Medicine and Anti-Doping Committee of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation Games. 

"This is a great loss for Brunei sports, in particular for all the athletes and all sports affiliates he has given more than 20 years of dedicated service to," said His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, the BNOC President.