DOHA, Dec 4 - Harem Ali won Iraq's first Asian Games medal for 20 years when he clinched a bronze in the men's lightweight weightlifting on Monday.

Iraq were banished from the Asian Games after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the 21-year-old Kurd is the first Iraqi to stand on a podium at the continental event since Seoul in 1986.

"We wanted to wipe away tears from Iraqi faces and make them happy, that was our main aim," said Ali's coach Kadir Basha, who was struggling to hold back his own tears of joy.

Ali finished third behind China's Li Hongli and South Korea's Lee Jeong-jae and said that, but for troubles in his country, he could have won gold.

"I give this gift to all the people of Iraq from north to south and from east to west," Ali told reporters, still holding the Iraqi flag which he wrapped around his shoulders to collect his medal.

Several sportsmen and officials have been kidnapped in Iraq as the country has degenerated into sectarian conflict over the last year.

On Saturday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge appealed for the release of more than 20 sports officials who were kidnapped in July during a meeting of the country's Olympic Committee and have not been heard from since.