Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi has won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, marking a major milestone in her sporting career. China’s Guo Li claimed gold, while Hong Kong’s Leung Wing Yee took bronze.
Hashimi, 23, began cycling as a teenager in Afghanistan and has said she sometimes disguised herself as a man to train and avoid attacks while pursuing her dream. She and her sister Yulduz faced hostility while cycling in their home province of Faryab.
After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Hashimi fled Afghanistan and later settled in Italy, where she continued training. She also represented Afghanistan at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Following her silver-medal finish, Hashimi said she hoped her achievement would inspire Afghan women and allow future generations to represent their country without fear. The medal also made her Afghanistan’s first female Asian Games medallist since 2002.
