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Table 3_Paralympic sport in Central Asia: a scoping review with descriptive analysis of participation, achievement, and medal efficiency (1996–2024).docx Ulbossyn Marchibayeva (25090588) Sports Medicine Central Asia disability sport elite sport development Paralympic sport participation inequalities PRISMA-ScR sport policy <p>Published research on Paralympic sport in Central Asia remains limited despite the region's growing presence at the Games. This review focuses on elite, Games-level participation and achievement. We conducted a scoping review reported in line with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, alongside an analysis of International Paralympic Committee (IPC) archival data for five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan) across Summer (1996–2024) and Winter (1994–2026) Games, framed through the SPLISS model and the constraint-led approach. The scoping review maps international knowledge; the IPC analysis documents regional outcomes, offering complementary evidence. The review identified three domains: income-, gender-, and technology-linked participation gaps (D1); discipline-specific age profiles ranging from a median of 25 years in Para Swimming to 38 years in Para Equestrian (D2); and ten national policy factors linked to Paralympic success (D3). IPC data showed Central Asian participation rising from 15 athletes in 1996 to 113 in 2024, led by Uzbekistan (n = 64, Paris 2024) and Kazakhstan (n = 44), concentrated in Para Athletics, Para Judo, and Para Powerlifting, plus a full Kazakhstani sitting volleyball squad and Para Swimming. Female representation rose from 0% in 1996 to 41.6% in 2024, near the ∼43% global benchmark. Medal efficiency was 0% before 2012, spiked to 73.5% at Rio 2016 (95% CI 59.7%–83.8%), driven by Uzbekistan winning more medals than athletes that edition, then settled at 32.9% (Tokyo 2020) and 31.0% (Paris 2024, 95% CI 23.2%–40.0%); the 2016 spike is statistically distinguishable from other editions, while Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 are not. Uzbekistan grew from 0 athletes in 1996 to 64 in 2024, with the sharpest rise from 32 (Rio 2016) to 64 (Paris 2024), coinciding with documented 2019–2024 state Paralympic-development measures-a plausible institutional account alongside classification reform and host-proximity effects. No study identified by our search has examined elite Paralympic sport development in Central Asia specifically. Four research priorities are proposed: epidemiological profiling, adapted policy analysis with regional researchers, longitudinal athlete tracking, and psychological support programs.</p> 2026-09-22T14:45:35Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fspor.2026.1893368.s003 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Table_3_Paralympic_sport_in_Central_Asia_a_scoping_review_with_descriptive_analysis_of_participation_achievement_and_medal_efficiency_1996_2024_docx/33965725 CC BY 4.0