Fariba Hashimi Takes Asian Games Silver After Fleeing Afghanistan

The 23-year-old cyclist, now based in Italy, won road race silver in Nagoya and said she hopes her story inspires Afghan women and girls.

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi claimed a silver medal in the women's road race at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, finishing behind China's Guo Li. The 23-year-old also placed seventh in the women's time trial at the Games.

Hashimi escaped Afghanistan in 2021 alongside her sister Yulduz, also a professional cyclist, after the Taliban regained control of the country. The sisters, who come from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan, are now based in Italy and competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Early in her career, Hashimi trained disguised as a man for her own safety and said she was attacked with stones and bottles. After her medal win, she said she hoped the next generation could represent their country without fear and that her silver reflected the resilience of Afghan women.

Hashimi worked without a mechanic at the Games and said she maintained her own bike, repairing and washing it herself. She thanked the Japanese team for helping fix her equipment during the competition.

Looking ahead, Hashimi said she hopes to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and has no intention of giving up.