Afghan cyclist who disguised herself as a man to train wins Asian Games silver

Fariba Hashimi, the Afghan cyclist who fled her country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, won silver in the women’s road race at the Asian Games near Nagoya in Japan on Tuesday.

The result came after a journey from Faryab province in Afghanistan to Italy, where Hashimi now lives and trains. At 23, she is building an international cycling career shaped by the risks she faced while riding at home and by the restrictions imposed on Afghan women since the Taliban’s return.

Hashimi said she had disguised herself as a man to reach training sessions in Afghanistan. “I would dress as a man wearing two or three different masks to go to training,” she said. She also said she had to avoid stones thrown at her while riding, and that people had thrown bottles at her during training.

She began cycling at the age of 15 after following her sister, Yulduz, into the sport. The sisters later competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and they are now setting their sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Hashimi’s Asian Games campaign included seventh place in the women’s individual time trial on Sunday. She raced with limited support, arriving without a mechanic and with minimal preparation. She brought one person from the national federation, who drove the car.

Her move to Italy was helped by Alessandra Cappellotto, the Italian former world champion. The relocation gave Hashimi the chance to continue training and competing after she left Afghanistan in 2021.

Taliban authorities have imposed rules limiting women’s access to education and public life, including sport. UNESCO estimates that 2.4 million Afghan girls have been excluded from secondary education since the Taliban returned to power.

Hashimi described her medal as part of a wider struggle for Afghan women seeking to pursue their ambitions. “I was born inside a country where the women who dream are getting attacked, and I'm really happy that I have fought against that,” she said.

She said the Taliban “took away our freedom” and expressed hope for those who may follow her into international competition. “I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear.”