Afghan cyclist who disguised as man wins Asian Games silver

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi, who disguised herself as a man to pursue cycling in Afghanistan, has won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Hashimi finished second in the road race final, behind China’s Guo Li, and ahead of Leung Wing Yee of Hong Kong. The silver medal came two days after Hashimi finished 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 marked by the dangers she faced while pursuing cycling in Afghanistan, where she had to disguise herself as a man to attend training.

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