Afghan cyclist Hashimi takes Asian Games silver after Taliban-era disguise
Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the Asian Games in Japan, after previously disguising herself as a man to train under the Taliban. Her achievement highlights both her personal resilience and the severe restrictions facing women in Afghanistan, where she says female athletes risked violence and persecution.
Hashimi, 23, also finished seventh in the individual time trial and now lives and trains in Italy with support from former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto. She and her sister Yulduz competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics and hope to represent Afghanistan again at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, while Hashimi says she wants her success to encourage Afghan women to pursue their ambitions.
- Fariba Hashimi won silver in the Asian Games road race.
- She once disguised herself to train safely in Afghanistan.
- The Olympic cyclist hopes to inspire Afghan women.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Cyclist who dressed as man to avoid Taliban wins silver medal”.