Afghan female cyclist who trained by dressing as a man wins silver at Asian Games

Afghanistan's Fariba Hashimi, who once trained disguised as a man to avoid recognition while cycling, won silver in the women's road race at Asian Games 2026. The 23-year-old clocked 2:50:05 to bag the silver medal. Hashimi fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and now lives and trains in Italy with professional support.