Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the Asian Games in Japan on Tuesday, saying her achievement could inspire women facing restrictions in Afghanistan.
The 23-year-old, who now lives and trains in Italy, fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Hashimi said she had faced attacks and was forced to disguise herself as a boy when she began cycling as a teenager because of restrictions on women participating in sport.
Hashimi and her sister, Yulduz, also a professional cyclist, eventually left Afghanistan with assistance from former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto. The sisters represented Afghanistan at the Paris Olympics and are now looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Speaking after her silver-medal finish near Nagoya, Hashimi described the result as a special achievement and said she hoped future generations of Afghan women would be able to represent their country without fear.
She also thanked the Japanese cycling team for helping repair her bicycle during the competition, saying she had arrived without a mechanic and had to handle much of the preparation herself.
Hashimi said the medal represented resilience among Afghan women and the millions of women around the world who continue to pursue their dreams despite restrictions.
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