Afghan Cyclist Fariba Hashimi Takes Asian Games Road Race Silver

Fariba Hashimi, who raced disguised as a man before fleeing Afghanistan, finished second in the women's road race near Nagoya, Japan.

Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist now based in Italy, won a silver medal Tuesday in the women's road race at the Asian Games near Nagoya, Japan. She once disguised herself as a man to keep competing in her home country before fleeing after the Taliban returned to power.

Hashimi described the result as something special and said she hoped the medal would demonstrate the resilience of Afghan women. Taliban authorities have sharply restricted women's freedoms in Afghanistan since taking control.

Her podium finish at the Asian Games stands as a rare international sporting achievement for an Afghan woman amid those restrictions.