Afghan cyclist who dressed as a man to avoid Taliban wins silver medal at Asian Games

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi, who had to disguise herself as a man to escape the Taliban's oppressive regime, achieved a silver medal at the Asian Games. Forced to flee Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban regained power, the 23-year-old cyclist endured significant challenges to pursue her passion for cycling. Hashimi, who trained and competed while disguised as a man, expressed immense gratitude for the support she received from the Japanese team during her silver medal-winning journey.

She hopes her achievements will inspire other women in Afghanistan to pursue their dreams fearlessly, stating that she never wants to give up and looks forward to competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.