Afghan cyclist who escaped Taliban wins Asian Games silver medal
Fariba Hashimi, who used to disguise herself as a man to train in Afghanistan, finishes second in women's road race.
An Afghan cyclist who disguised herself as a man to pursue her sporting dreams has won an Asian Games silver medal, hoping it inspires other women in a country where Taliban authorities have sharply curtailed their freedoms.
Italy-based Fariba Hashimi powered home second in the women’s road race near Nagoya in Japan on Tuesday, calling the triumph “something special”.
“I can’t explain my feelings now,” said the 23-year-old, before reflecting on how she was attacked with stones and trained disguised as a man when she started out in the sport as a teenager, along with her sister Yulduz, who is also now a pro cyclist.
“They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us,” said Hashimi, who hails from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan and left the country after the Taliban authorities took over.