Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist who fled her home country after the Taliban regained power, achieved a remarkable feat by winning a silver medal in the women’s road race at the Asian Games. The 23-year-old expressed her hope that her success would inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

Having faced significant challenges, including disguising herself as a man during training and enduring attacks from spectators, Hashimi escaped Afghanistan with her sister, Yulduz, a fellow professional cyclist. The sisters, originally from Faryab province, found refuge in Italy and are now preparing to compete at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

In addition to her silver in the road race, Hashimi finished seventh in the women’s time trial at the Asian Games. She conveyed her desire for her performances to motivate other girls and women living under the oppressive Taliban regime to pursue their sporting dreams.

Hashimi stated, “I can’t explain my feelings now. 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. I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear.”

She emphasized the significance of her silver medal, stating, “This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women.” Looking ahead, Hashimi aims to compete at the LA Olympics in 2028, declaring, “I never want to give up.”

Additionally, Hashimi expressed gratitude to the Japanese team for their support during the Games, noting that she had to manage her own bike repairs, saying, “I was the mechanic for myself. Thank you to the Japanese team. They were really, really nice to me, fixed my bike.”