Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi, who once disguised herself as a man to pursue cycling in Afghanistan, has won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Hashimi finished second in the road race final at the Shinshiro Cycling Road Course in Aichi Prefecture on Tuesday, according to Amu TV.

China’s Guo Li won the gold medal, while Leung Wing Yee of Hong Kong took bronze.

The silver came two days after Hashimi finished seventh in the women’s individual time trial, where she competed against 14 riders.

The 23-year-old completed the 24.2-kilometre time-trial course two minutes and three seconds behind Kazakhstan’s Rinata Sultanova, who won the event, Amu TV reported.

Hashimi’s journey to the Asian Games podium has been marked by the dangers she faced while pursuing cycling in Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, Hashimi began cycling at 15 after following her sister, Yulduz, into the sport, but had to disguise herself as a man to attend training in her home province of Faryab.

“I always dressed as a man to go to training, wearing two or three different masks so people would not recognise or attack me. I was scared of them finding me,” Reuters quoted Hashimi as saying.

She also told Reuters that stones and bottles were thrown at her while she and her sister trained.

“I sometimes had a big stone thrown at my head. People were throwing bottles at me. They were trying to make us go home by being aggressive and attacking us,” she said.

Hashimi fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and is now based in Italy.

Afghan women and girls have faced sweeping restrictions on education, employment, movement and participation in public life.

Hashimi moved to Italy, where she and Yulduz continued their careers. The sisters subsequently represented Afghanistan at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Reuters reported.

Reflecting on her experience, Hashimi said her participation was about more than her individual performance.

“For me it’s not just about my performance but showing my country a woman in this situation. We are still alive and still fighting,” she said.

Hashimi had also expressed hope that Afghan girls would one day be able to pursue their ambitions and compete internationally from inside the country.

“I hope something can change so the next generation can come from inside of the country to compete at the Asian Games, exploring the world and winning medals,” she said.

Hashimi’s silver medal in the road race is Afghanistan’s latest achievement at the Asian Games, following her seventh-place finish in the individual time trial.

Source: punchng.com

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Senegalese football star Sadio Mané has launched a CFA11.7bn ($20.4m) agro-industrial project in his hometown of Bambali, southern Senegal, aimed at expanding mango processing and creating jobs.

Ecofin Agency reports on Monday that the project, known as SM10 Agro, was launched on September 19 in Bambali, Sédhiou Region.

The complex will include a processing plant with an annual capacity of 8,500 tonnes of mangoes, producing mango pulp, dried fruit and mango butter.

It will also include a 500-hectare plantation of Kent mangoes.

The project is located in Casamance, Senegal’s leading mango-producing region, where limited processing facilities have contributed to significant post-harvest losses.

Senegal loses an estimated 30 to 45 per cent of harvested fruit annually, with poor farming practices, harvesting and transportation challenges, and limited processing outlets among the factors contributing to the losses, Ecofin Agency reported.

Speaking at the launch, Mané said he wanted his legacy to extend beyond football.

“I don’t want to be remembered only for the goals I scored. Before the stadiums, the lights and the victories, there was, of course, Bambali. This is where my dreams began… We want to help create jobs and develop agriculture,” Mane was quoted as saying.

The facility is expected to allow more mangoes to be processed locally, including fruit that may not qualify for export to European Union markets because of phytosanitary requirements.

A 2023 study by the Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale, cited by Ecofin Agency, found that existing mango processing facilities in Casamance were concentrated mainly in the Ziguinchor region, while Sédhiou and Kolda remained poorly equipped despite producing local mango varieties.

The study also identified limited access to packaging and labelling services in Casamance as a challenge for processors, forcing some businesses to depend on Dakar for the services.

Mané’s investment comes as Senegal’s mango export industry recovers from recent difficulties linked to fruit-fly infestations and other phytosanitary problems.

Senegal exported about 27,000 tonnes of mangoes in 2021, but export volumes subsequently declined following problems that affected access to the European market.

Exports to Europe reportedly rose to more than 19,000 tonnes in 2026, up from about 14,000 tonnes the previous season, following improved phytosanitary measures, particularly efforts to control fruit flies.

Source: punchng.com

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Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi will return to the Super Eagles for the first time in two years after being handed a call-up to replace injured Victor Osimhen in the 24-man squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, The PUNCH reports.

Awoniyi’s inclusion was announced via the Super Eagles’ official social media accounts on Sunday after Osimhen’s withdrawal was confirmed by the team doctors.

The last time Awoniyi played for Nigeria was during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya in Uyo, where the Super Eagles won 1-0. He featured for 16 minutes in the game.

“Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi replaces Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Welcome back, Taiwo,” the announcement read on X.

The Super Eagles will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29.

Osimhen’s absence was confirmed after the Galatasaray striker was initially included in the 24-man squad announced last Thursday.

“Victor Osimhen’s recovery from a muscle strain has been slower than expected. He was included in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON qualifiers because Galatasaray and Super Eagles technical crew were hopeful he would be fit for the Super Lig game versus Trabzonspor and ready for the international window,” a statement from the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, read.

“But his absence from Saturday’s match confirms Galatasaray’s correspondence to Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle that the striker is still recovering and will not be ready for Nigeria’s matches.”

In Osimhen’s absence, Awoniyi, who recently switched from Nottingham Forest to newly promoted Coventry City, will hope to get the nod from Chelle to lead the line.

He faces competition from other forwards, including Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and Rafiu Durosinmi, who have all been making strong cases with their respective club form.

Since making his senior international debut in 2021, the 29-year-old has made 10 appearances for Nigeria, scoring two goals.

Despite enjoying impressive spells at club level, Awoniyi has struggled with injuries, particularly around international windows, limiting his involvement with the national team.

His deepest run at the Africa Cup of Nations came at the 2021 tournament, which was played in Cameroon in 2022, where he led the line alongside Kelechi Iheanacho.

Osimhen was also ruled out of that tournament through injury, leaving Awoniyi to spearhead Nigeria’s attack. He scored his first international goal in the Super Eagles’ 3-1 win over Sudan.

In 2023, Awoniyi also formed a striking partnership with Osimhen under Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro, although the combination was short-lived.

Source: punchng.com

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