Wu Shaozu [File photo]

China's former sports minister Wu Shaozu died on Sept 18 at the age of 73, Chinanews.com reported.

Wu, who was China's sports minister from 1998 to 2004, conducted many important reforms in sport during his term. He led the Chinese team to participate in the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996, where the Chinese delegation won 32 gold medals all together.

Wu was born in 1939 in Hunan province and graduated from Tsinghua University in 1964. He was appointed sports minister in 1988. Although he didn't have much experience in sport, he was able to make great contributions in the following decade.