Paris: From being secretly accepted into the world of cycling, to enduring the humiliation of being a female athlete, to escaping Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and realising their Olympic dreams, Fariba Hashemi and her sister Yulduz have had an extraordinary journey.

Fear has been a constant companion for the Hashemite brothers living in Afghanistan’s Faryab province, where the Taliban bans women from participating in sports.

Even before the Taliban took power following the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces and the fall of the government in 2021, life was not easy for Fariba and Yulduz.

Their adventure began when they noticed an advertisement for a bicycle race. They borrowed a bike from their neighbor to give it a try. Fariba, then 14, and Yuldez, then 17, came in first and second place using fake names.

They discovered their wings and did not let anyone knock them down, but they had to hide their identities with scarves while riding their bikes through the streets of Faryab, and even hid their passion from their parents at first.

They gradually gained the support of their parents, but one day Yulduz was attacked for engaging in what was described as a “male activity.” Despite winning the races, the Taliban’s seizure of power left them with no choice but to flee the country, where their basic freedoms and rights were severely restricted.

“I left my country and went to Italy because my life was in great danger,” said Fariba, 21. PTI.

“When I started cycling, my family was very stressed for me. When the situation (Taliban takeover) happened in 2021, they feared for my life.” They left Afghanistan with the help of former Italian world champion cyclist Alessandra Cappellotto.

“It wasn’t easy for me, leaving my home, my family, to go to a new country. It was difficult for me to start a new life. The Italian government, Alessandra Cappellotto, were very helpful.”

When she arrived in Italy, Fariba realized how different life could be. There was love, support and most importantly, freedom.

“I am living a different life, a new life, language and culture.” Fariba said she has traveled to Pakistan, Qatar, Dubai and other Muslim countries and is happy to see that women are not deprived of sports and education.

“I want to say, please look at other Muslim countries. I have been there and seen what people’s lives are like there. When I look at my country, I see a big difference.

“They want to take women away from everything. People want freedom in Afghanistan. Please, please, I mean this is not right, you have to give women in Afghanistan every opportunity, they can do anything, everything, even the Olympics.”

Fariba said that participating in the Paris Games was a big deal for her, but she wanted to use the biggest sporting platform to voice that the 20 million women living in her country needed support.

Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee (AOC) was also replaced by the Taliban, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to recognize Afghan officials living in exile.

AOC Chairman Hafizullah Wali Rahimi hopes that international pressure on the Taliban will yield positive results.

“Thanks to the IOC and OCA, we had more than 20 athletes preparing for the Olympics. We had scholarships through the IOC and most of them were training abroad under good coaches,” Rahimi said.

“There is already a lot of discussion and we hope through the international community to see all women return to schools, universities, workplaces. And return to sports clubs and join their brothers in sports activities,” said Rahimi, who is pursuing her Masters and PhD in Economics from the University of Delhi.

Mohammad Farid Naseem, who trains Fraiba and Yulduz, says he is not afraid of the Taliban and will continue to support his riders.

“I am proud to help them and support Afghan women in sports events. I am proud to represent Afghanistan in big events and will continue to do so forever,” she said.

The IOC has played an important role in supporting Afghan athletes.

The IOC, with the support of the relevant International Federations and the relevant host National Olympic Committees, was instrumental in the evacuation of athletes from Afghanistan.

“The IOC is in continuous dialogue with the Afghan NOC and Afghan sports authorities with the aim of removing current restrictions on women’s access to and participation in sport in 2021,” an IOC spokesperson said in response to an emailed question. PTI.

“The current framework of the IOC EB decision of 6 December 2022 allows for a continuous dialogue with the Afghan sports authorities with the very clear aim of reversing the current restrictions as soon as possible.”

The Afghan flag has become a symbol of resistance as the Taliban seeks to replace it.

Afghan athletes will compete under their national flag, and Fariba will have tricolor stickers on her bike as she rows in the road race event on August 4. These stickers will send a loud and clear message that the fight for rights will continue.