AFGHAN CYCLIST WHO DISGUISED AS MAN WINS ASIAN GAMES SILVER

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi has won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, years after she disguised herself as a man to pursue cycling in Afghanistan.

Hashimi finished second in the road race final at the Shinshiro Cycling Road Course in Aichi Prefecture on Tuesday, according to Amu TV.

China’s Guo Li claimed the gold medal, while Leung Wing Yee of Hong Kong finished with the bronze.

The silver medal came two days after Hashimi placed seventh in the women’s individual time trial, where she competed against 14 riders.

The 23-year-old completed the 24.2-kilometre time-trial course two minutes and three seconds behind Kazakhstan’s Rinata Sultanova, who won the event.

Hashimi’s journey to the Asian Games podium has been shaped by the challenges she faced while pursuing cycling in Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, Hashimi started cycling at the age of 15 after following her sister, Yulduz, into the sport. However, she had to disguise herself as a man to attend training sessions in her home province of Faryab.

Hashimi said she would dress as a man and wear multiple masks to avoid being recognised or attacked while going to training.

She also recalled facing hostility while training with her sister, saying people threw stones and bottles at them in an attempt to force them to stop cycling.

At one point, she said, a large stone was thrown at her head during training.

Hashimi eventually fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and later moved to Italy, where she and her sister continued their cycling careers.

Afghan women and girls have since faced extensive restrictions on education, employment, movement and participation in public life.

Hashimi and Yulduz subsequently represented Afghanistan at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Speaking about her cycling career, Hashimi said her participation in international competitions represented more than personal achievement, as she wanted to demonstrate the resilience of 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.

The cyclist also expressed hope that Afghan girls would eventually be able to pursue their ambitions and compete internationally from within Afghanistan.

She said she wanted future generations of Afghan female athletes to have the opportunity to travel, compete at major competitions and win medals while representing their country.

Hashimi’s silver medal in the women’s road race adds another major achievement to her international cycling career, following her seventh-place finish in the individual time trial at the Asian Games.