Fariba Hashimi wins silver medal at Asian Games

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi won a silver medal in the road race at the Asian Games held in the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan. This achievement marks her as the first Afghan woman to medal in cycling at the Asian Games and the first female medalist from Afghanistan at the event since 2002.

Hashimi's journey to the podium was marked by extreme adversity in her home country. To continue training in Afghanistan while avoiding violence and societal backlash, she was forced to disguise herself as a man. She reported being pelted with stones during her training sessions. Following the return of the Taliban to power in 2021, which imposed strict restrictions on women's access to education, public life, and sports, Hashimi fled to Italy.

Now residing and training in Italy with support from former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto, Hashimi aims to use her success to inspire future generations of Afghan women to pursue their dreams without fear. She and her sister, Yulduz, previously competed in the Paris Olympics and are currently preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.