# Afghan cyclist's silver shows women's resilience

> Fariba Hashimi won an Asian Games medal after fleeing Taliban rule and training in disguise to avoid attack.
- Title: Afghan cyclist's silver shows women's resilience · BBC Sport
- Summary: Fariba Hashimi won an Asian Games medal after fleeing Taliban rule and training in disguise to avoid attack. Women in restrictive environments find ways to…
- Keywords: fariba hashimi, afghanistan, cycling, taliban, women's rights, asian games, 2026, nagoya, yulduz hashimi, alessandra cappellotto, italy, news
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/c63eqyvdndwdo
- Published: 2026-09-22T16:57:55.263+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: fariba hashimi, afghanistan, cycling, taliban, women's rights, asian games, 2026, nagoya, yulduz hashimi, alessandra cappellotto, italy, news
## Afghan cyclist wins silver at Asian Games
Fariba Hashimi, 23, earned a silver medal in the women's road race near Nagoya, Japan on Tuesday, following a seventh-place finish in the individual time trial on Sunday.
## She trained disguised as a man
Before fleeing Afghanistan in 2021, Hashimi dressed as a man and wore multiple masks to training to avoid being attacked in her home province of Faryab, where women face severe restrictions.

> I always dressed as a man to go to training, wearing two or three different masks so people would not recognise or attack me.
## Taliban takeover forced her to flee
When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Hashimi left Afghanistan. She now lives and trains in Italy with support from Italian former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto.

> The Taliban took away our freedom.
## Her sister also became a cyclist
Hashimi followed her sister Yulduz into cycling at age 15 despite the dangers in their home province. Both sisters competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
## Medal shows Afghan women's resilience
Hashimi says her silver medal demonstrates the strength of Afghan women and hopes it inspires the next generation to pursue their dreams without fear.

> This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women, and I'm really happy.
## Eyes set on Los Angeles 2028
Hashimi and her sister are now targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, determined to continue competing and representing their country on the world stage.

> I never want to give up.
## Key takeaway

Women in restrictive environments find ways to pursue their dreams, and their achievements inspire others facing similar barriers.