By disguising herself as a male to chase her athletic ambitions, an Afghan cyclist secured an Asian Games silver medal on Tuesday, expressing hope that her success will motivate women in a nation where Taliban rulers have drastically restricted fundamental freedoms.

Currently based in Italy, Fariba Hashimi clinched second place in the women's road race close to Nagoya, Japan, characterizing the accomplishment as "something special."

The 23-year-old athlete recalled being targeted with stone-throwing and having to train under male disguise when she began cycling as a teenager alongside her sister Yulduz, who has also turned professional.

Expressing her emotions, Hashimi stated, "I can't explain my feelings now," before adding, "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 further remarked, "I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear."

Since regaining control in 2021, Taliban authorities have enacted restrictive directives curtailing female access to educational institutions, public spaces, and athletic participation.

Originally from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan, Hashimi fled her homeland following the Taliban takeover and noted, "They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us."

Highlighting the broader impact of her finish, she stated, "This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women, and I'm really happy," adding, "I'm not alone, I know that behind me millions of women, from many countries, have the same dream and they are standing with me."

Following her escape from Afghanistan facilitated by former Italian world champion Alessandra Cappellotto, Hashimi established her base in Italy for living and training.

After participating with her sister at the Paris Olympics two years prior, she has set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, declaring, "I never want to give up and hopefully we can see (what can happen) again in Los Angeles."

Acknowledging the logistical hurdles during her event setup, Hashimi offered gratitude to the host nation's contingent for crucial technical aid, explaining, "I'm here without a mechanic, without any preparation. We brought one guy with us from the national federation, and he just drove the car."

Describing her independent maintenance efforts, she added, "We were fixing the bike ourselves. I was the mechanic for myself. I was washing the bike myself," before concluding, "Thank you to the Japanese team. They were really, really nice to me, fixed my bike."

Source: AFP