Farabi Hashimi, a 23-year-old Afghan cyclist, sent a message of hope and resilience for Afghan women by securing seventh place in the women's individual time trial at the Asian Games. Hashimi, who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban regained power in 2021 and now resides in Italy, sees this achievement as a sign of the strength and determination of Afghan women.
Farabi Hashimi's Difficult Journey
Hashimi entered the world of cycling at the age of 15, inspired by her sister Yoldouz, who is also an international cyclist. She faced many challenges in pursuit of her goal. In Faryab province, where she lived, she had to disguise herself as a man to avoid detection and trained while wearing various masks. She recalls how she faced stone and bottle throwing from people and lived in constant fear of potential attacks.
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Message of Hope to Afghan Women
With the support of Alessandra Cappellotto, world cycling champion in 1997, Hashimi went to Italy and participated in the Paris Olympics over the past two years. She stated, "Unfortunately, I cannot live in my country and I haven't seen my family for a long time." Hashimi, referring to her dreams of changing conditions in Afghanistan, said: "I hope that in the future changes will occur in my country and the next generation will compete in the Asian Games and win medals. We are still alive and we fight. For me, this is not just about my performance, but about showing a woman in these conditions."
Hashimi expressed her desire to one day return to her homeland and inspire Afghan women, emphasizing that "this is my biggest dream." She pointed out the consequences of the power change in Afghanistan and its impact on girls' access to education, stating: "UNESCO estimates that 2.4 million Afghan girls are deprived of secondary education."
Despite the challenges Hashimi has faced, she continues to pursue her dreams and change conditions for the women of her country. This cycling champion is a symbol of hope and resilience not only for herself but for all women in difficult circumstances.
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