Afghan cyclist who escaped Taliban wins Asian Games silver medal

Fariba Hashimi, who left Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, rode to a silver medal in the women’s road race at the Asian Games near Nagoya. The 23-year-old, now based in Italy, said the achievement was "something special" and described it as a sign of resilience for Afghan women. Hashimi recounted the dangers she faced while learning the sport as a teenager, including being attacked with stones and training while disguised as a man. She and her sister Yulduz — who is also a professional cyclist — have both competed internationally; the pair took part at the Paris Olympics in 2024. After fleeing Afghanistan with assistance from Italian former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto, Hashimi settled in Italy where she lives and trains. She said she had limited team support at the Asian Games, noting that the delegation included a single federation staff member and that she performed mechanical work on her own bike, and she thanked the Japanese team for helping to fix her equipment. Hashimi linked her result to broader restrictions on women in Afghanistan, saying the Taliban authorities had "taken away our freedom" through rules limiting women's access to education and public life, including sport. She expressed hope that future generations of Afghan women will be able to compete without fear and said she intends to continue pursuing competition, including a possible appearance at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.