Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi, who previously disguised herself as a man to pursue her sporting ambitions, won a silver medal in the women's road race at the Asian Games near Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday.
Hashimi, 23, who now lives and trains in Italy, described the achievement as "something special." She reflected on being attacked with stones and training disguised as a man when she began cycling as a teenager alongside her sister Yulduz.
Hashimi left Afghanistan after the Taliban authorities returned to power in 2021, which led to new rules limiting women's access to education, public life, and sport. She stated, "This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women."
Hashimi and her sister competed in the Paris Olympics two years ago, and she expressed hope for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. She also thanked the Japanese team for their assistance with her bike during the event.