Journal of Asian Paralympic Movement (Humanistic Approach to Sport and Exercise Studies)

In recent decades, sport has gained growing recognition as a means of empowerment for women with disabilities in Asia—physically, psychologically, and socially. Yet, the policymaking landscape in this area remains fragmented and inconsistent. A clear gap persists between strategic documents and the lived realities of women with disabilities. This commentary critically examines current policy directions, highlights structural challenges, and explores cultural dynamics in Islamic contexts. Inclusive sport policy for women with disabilities in Asia must address not only legislative and structural gaps but also deeply rooted cultural dynamics, particularly in Islamic contexts. When cultural sensitivity is paired with evidence-based planning and strong institutional support, sport can move from symbolic inclusion to genuine empowerment.

The convergence of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping sports globally, yet para-sport organizations face uniquely complex challenges, from precision in classification to equitable access to technology. Despite growing interest, research remains fragmented, lacking an integrated framework linking technological capability, ethical governance, and inclusivity imperatives. This narrative review critically synthesizes contemporary evidence (2005–2025) to illuminate how AI and digital systems can reconfigure para-sport governance, performance optimization, and athlete empowerment. Literature was sourced from major scholarly databases, analyzed thematically, and integrated into a foresight-oriented conceptual model. Findings reveal five strategic domains: organizational digital readiness; AI applications for adaptive training and decision-making; governance frameworks for ethical and transparent implementation; mitigation of algorithmic bias; and future scenario planning for resilient, inclusive systems. Opportunities include enhancing classification accuracy, personalizing performance strategies, and democratizing digital resources. However, risks such as entrenched bias, data governance failures, and regulatory fragmentation remain critical threats. This review advocates for urgent, coordinated action to integrate ethics, accessibility, and co-creation into AI development. Policy recommendations include stakeholder-driven algorithm design, routine bias audits, capacity-building initiatives, and harmonized global regulatory standards. Ultimately, para-sport stands at a pivotal inflection point: without intentional, equity-focused strategies, technological advances risk reinforcing structural disparities.

Para badminton was one of the major sports which was included in Khelo India Paragames. Para badminton sports is physically challenging and it comprises of six classes. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and distribution of injury pattern in Para badminton players on the basis of gender, various categories of Para badminton athletes and combined wheelchair and non-wheelchair classes who participated in Khelo India Paragames 2025. A prospective epidemiological study was conducted that used the records from the medical help-desk. A total of 144 players were included in this study. Data on the athlete’s identity, demographic characteristics and musculoskeletal injuries were extracted from the records of the medical help-desk. We calculated the incidence rate ratio and injury incidence rate, which is expressed as the number of injuries per 1000 hours of exposure. Women athletes demonstrate 27.20 injuries per 1000 athlete-hours compared to men's 8.00 injuries per 1000 athlete-hours. Wheelchair players experienced an injury incidence rate of 15.74 per 1,000 athlete-hours, while, non-wheelchair players recorded an injury incidence rate of 10.4 per 1,000 athlete-hours. Future research must rigorously investigate the optimal training volume required to prevent pain and injuries associated with Para sports players.

This study employed a phenomenological analysis using an interpretive approach to explore the lived experiences of disabled athletes' social media presence, focusing on meaning-making processes and subjective interpretations of their digital engagement. The research involved 15 participants and Data collection utilized semi-structured in-depth interviews lasting 45-60 minutes, conducted face-to-face or via video conferencing, with analysis following phenomenological principles that resulted in 287 semantic propositions being reduced to 96 semantic units, then 13 subordinate themes, and finally five principal themes include Identity Reconstruction in Digital Space, Confronting Discriminatory Structures, Social Relationship Dynamics, Psychological and Emotional Experiences, and Resistance and Action Strategies—demonstrating that social media serves as a complex terrain where disabled athletes simultaneously experience unprecedented opportunities for self-representation and community building while confronting persistent discrimination and developing sophisticated coping mechanisms, challenging simplistic narratives about technology as either purely liberating or oppressive for marginalized communities.

This study aims to examine the validity of prescribed AI-generated exercise interventions for general health and weight loss. This study developed an AI-generated exercise program using the Delphi method. The Delphi process involved administering a structured questionnaire within the relevant domain, whereby a panel of experts evaluated the appropriateness of the program. To assess validity, three established measures were employed: the Content Validity Ratio (CVR), the Content Validity Index (CVI), and the Impact Score (IS). In addition, the Fleiss’ Kappa coefficient (κ) was calculated to determine the degree of agreement (reliability) among the experts. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 27 and Microsoft Excel. The IS indicates that all exercises achieved the required level of validity. Also, based on the CVI and CVR, all exercises demonstrated acceptable content validity for general health and weight loss. However, the negative kappa value suggests poor agreement among the experts for the mentioned variables. The findings indicate that while platforms such as ChatGPT-4o can produce broadly appropriate exercise content, expert agreement on the validity of these protocols was very low. Accordingly, AI should be viewed as a supplementary tool that can assist in designing individualized health and weight management programs.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a selected aerobic step training program on cardiovascular indices, maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), subcutaneous fat, anxiety, and aggression in deaf male students. Thirty deaf males with a mean age of 19–25 years, height ranging from 167 to 186.5 cm, and weight between 51 and 105 kg were randomly divided into experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. The training program for the experimental group lasted for six weeks, consisting of three sessions per week, each session lasting 45 minutes with an intensity of 80–85% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). Pre- and post-tests were administered to measure aerobic capacity, anxiety, and aggression using the aerobic step test, Spielberger’s Anxiety Inventory, and the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire, respectively. Subcutaneous fat was measured using a skinfold caliper. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and covariance analysis. The results revealed a significant increase in aerobic capacity as well as a significant decrease in anxiety, aggression, and subcutaneous fat percentage following the aerobic training intervention. Overall, the findings indicate that aerobic exercise has a positive effect on aerobic capacity adaptation, body composition, anxiety reduction, and aggression control in deaf individuals.

This study's purpose was to structurally model the relationships between personality style and sports identity with psychological resilience in athletes with a disability. The research method was descriptive-correlational, using structural equation modeling. The sample included active athletes with a disability (club, provincial) who had experienced at least one sports injury in the past two years. Data collection utilized McCrae and Costa's Personality Questionnaire, Brewer et al.'s Sports Identity Questionnaire, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed using partial least squares. The findings showed that personality style has a positive and significant effect on psychological resilience. Sports identity also had a positive, significant impact on resilience. These variables explained a significant variance in resilience. Results indicate that athletes with positive personality traits and stronger sports identity have a greater ability to bounce back from difficult situations. From an applied perspective, findings can be used in designing psychological interventions to enhance resilience. Sports federations should include personality skills development.