Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi has secured a silver medal in the women’s road race at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, adding another milestone to her remarkable career.
Hashimi finished second in Tuesday’s final at the Shinshiro Cycling Road Course in Aichi Prefecture, behind China’s Guo Li, while Hong Kong’s Leung Wing Yee claimed bronze.
The 23-year-old’s medal came two days after she placed seventh in the women’s individual time trial, finishing the 24.2-kilometre race two minutes and three seconds behind Kazakhstan’s gold medallist Rinata Sultanova.
Hashimi began cycling at 15 after following her sister, Yulduz, into the sport. Growing up in Afghanistan, she disguised herself as a boy to attend training because of hostility towards women cyclists.
“I always dressed as a man to go to training, wearing two or three different masks so people would not recognise or attack me. I was scared of them finding me,” Reuters quoted Hashimi as saying.
She recalled being targeted during training sessions, with people throwing stones and bottles at her and her sister.
“I sometimes had a big stone thrown at my head. People were throwing bottles at me. They were trying to make us go home by being aggressive and attacking us,” she said.
Hashimi left Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and later settled in Italy, where she and Yulduz continued their cycling careers.
The sisters represented Afghanistan at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hashimi said her participation carries a wider significance for Afghan women.
“For me it’s not just about my performance but showing my country a woman in this situation. We are still alive and still fighting,” she said.
She also expressed hope that future generations of Afghan girls would be able to compete internationally from home.
“I hope something can change so the next generation can come from inside of the country to compete at the Asian Games, exploring the world and winning medals,” she said.
