Afghan cyclist who evaded Taliban wins silver medal
23 Sep 2026 - The Guardian Agence France-Presse An Afghan cyclist who disguised herself as a man to pursue her sporting dreams won an Asian Games silver medal yesterday, hoping it inspires other women in a country where Taliban authorities have sharply curtailed their freedoms. Fariba Hashimi , who is based in Italy, powered home second behind China’s Guo Li in the women’s road race near Nagoya in Japan, calling the triumph “something special”. “I can’t explain my feelings now,” the 23-year-old said, 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. “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. “I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear.” The Taliban authorities returned to power in 2021 and have sin...