An Afghan cyclist, who disguised herself as a man to pursue her sporting dreams, won a silver medal at the Asian Games on Tuesday, inspiring women in a country where the Taliban has severely restricted their freedoms.

Fariba Hashimi, based in Italy, finished second in the women’s road race near Nagoya, Japan, calling her achievement “something special.” At just 23 years old, she expressed her emotions, recalling the challenges she faced, including being attacked with stones and training disguised as a man alongside her sister, Yulduz, who is also a professional cyclist.

“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,” Hashimi stated. She hopes her success encourages the next generation of Afghan women to pursue their dreams without fear.

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, they imposed strict regulations limiting women’s rights, including access to sports. Hashimi lamented, “They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us,” emphasizing the significance of her medal as a symbol of resilience for Afghan women.

After fleeing Afghanistan with the assistance of former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto, Hashimi now trains in Italy. She and her sister previously competed at the Paris Olympics and are eyeing the 2028 Los Angeles Games. “I never want to give up and hopefully we can see [what can happen] again in Los Angeles,” she expressed.

Hashimi extended her gratitude to the Japanese team for their support, stating, “I’m here without a mechanic, without any preparation... Thank you to the Japanese team. They were really, really nice to me, fixed my bike.”