Fariba Hashimi wins silver
Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi, who disguised herself as a male cyclist, won silver in the women’s road race at the Asian Games held near Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday. She disguised herself as a male cyclist to stay safe from the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
The 23-year-old Fariba Hashimi, who lives and trains in Italy, described the achievement as special after overcoming restrictions and threats.
Hashimi recalled starting cycling as a teenager with her sister, Yulduz, who also became a cyclist. She said attackers once threw stones at her while she trained. Moreover, she sometimes disguised herself as a man to pursue her ambitions.
“I was born inside a country where women who dream are getting attacked,” Hashimi said after the race.
She added that she hoped her medal would encourage the next generation of Afghan women to represent their country without fear.
A symbol of resilience
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 and introduced rules that restricted women’s access to education, public life and sports.
Fariba Hashimi, who comes from Faryab province, left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. She moved to Italy with help from world champion Alessandra Cappellotto. The cyclist and her sister represented Afghanistan at the Paris Olympics two years ago. Hashimi now hopes to compete again at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Meanwhile, she thanked the Japanese team for helping her. Hashimi said her delegation lacked a mechanic and preparation.
She explained that she and her teammates repaired and cleaned their bicycles themselves. However, the Japanese team stepped in and helped fix her bike. Hashimi said the medal represents resilience among Afghan women and said millions of women worldwide share similar dreams. She expressed hope that Afghan athletes could compete internationally without restrictions or fear.
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