Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist who once disguised herself as a man to train in secret under Taliban rule, has won a silver medal in the women's road race at the Asian Games held near Nagoya, Japan. The 23-year-old finished second behind China's Guo Li, earning a result she described as a symbol of resilience for Afghan women everywhere.

Hashimi grew up in Faryab, a province in northern Afghanistan, where she took up cycling at the age of 15 alongside her sister Yulduz, also now a professional cyclist. Training in public was dangerous under Taliban influence even before the group's return to power, and Hashimi has described wearing two or three masks and dressing in men's clothing to avoid being recognised during rides. She also faced the threat of stones being thrown at her while on her bike. When the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021 and introduced sweeping restrictions on women's access to education, public life, and sport, Hashimi fled the country. She was helped by Italian former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto and now lives and trains in Italy.

Since relocating, Hashimi has built a career at the top level of women's professional cycling. She competed at the 2023 Road World Championships in Glasgow, rode in the breakaway for several hours during the Olympic road race at the 2024 Paris Games alongside her sister, and claimed her first professional victory in a stage of the Tour de l'Ardèche. This year she has raced at the Giro Donne and Milan–San Remo, two of the sport's most prestigious women's events.

Speaking after receiving her medal, Hashimi said she was struggling to put her emotions into words.