Lifter lifts two-decade medal drought for Iraq

Doha, Dec 05: Harem Ali earned war-ravaged Iraq a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Doha on Monday (4 December), ending the country's two-decade medal drought at the Games. Ali was competing in the 77 kilogram weightlifting class competition, which was won by China's Li Hongli.

Harem Ali, a 21-year-old Kurd from the northern city of Sulaimaniyah, claimed the bronze medal in the 77-kilogram weightlifting class at the Asian Games and dedicated to Iraq.

The event was won by China's Li Hongli, who held off the challenge of Korean Lee Jeong-Jae, thanks to a total of 341 kilograms.

"I have to say today I just did my best performance in this period. To be honest, there is still a gap between my best records in the past and nowadays. In the past couple of years, I have been suffering injury. Recently my best record was just the weight I lifted up today, so I would say I have done my best today.": Li Hongli, Winner: 77kg weightlifting category.

Li's coach said that his tactics also played a part in securing the gold medal.

"The capability is the foundation of today's success. And also our tactics worked. We have been studying the tactics a month ago and finalised it just last night. In our plan of tactics we also gave a thorough consideration on our rivals. Anyway, today the athlete has done a great job according to our tactics plan.": Chen Wenbin, Chinese weightlifting team coach.

Ali was delighted with his medal and said that his achievement came in difficult circumstances.

"Despite the trouble back home in Iraq, we couldn't train for the event properly, but God willing, I'll do better in the future competitions": Harem Ali, Bronze medal: 77kg weightlifting.

Ali has had to move his training base to southern Iraq because of the escalating security problem in Baghdad.

The head of the Iraqi team in Doha, Tiras Anwaya, said that Ali and another weightlifter would likely train abroad until the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Coach Salah Mohamed Kadhim was obviously delighted for his weightlifter and for the Iraqi people.

"First I would like to congratulate the Iraqi people for this medal. You know that Iraq has been away from participating in this competition, the Asian Games, for twenty years since 1986, because of the extraordinary political situation in Iraq and after twenty years our hero Harem Ali managed to win us the first medal in the tournament and this is great after a strong competition": Salah Mohamed Kadhim, Iraq weightlifting team coach.

Iraq's last medals at the Asian Games were in 1986 at Seoul, South Korea, where it won five silver and two bronze medals.

Bureau Report