Kingsmeadow-based Velocity Wheelchair star Tushar Patel is hoping to make it third time lucky as the countdown to the Beijing Paralympics ticks ever closer, writes Ryan Bangs.
The 29-year-old, who compete in his fourth Paralympic World Cup this weekend in Manchester, agonisingly missed out on selection to the Sydney and Athens Paralympics in 2000 and 2004.
Having missed out on the Beijing qualification mark earlier this year in Australia, the Fulham racer is hoping to catch the selectors' eyes with a podium finish in Manchester.
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More than 400 athletes from 45 countries will compete in athletics, track cycling, swimming and wheelchair basketball.
Patel, who competes in the 800m, 1500m and 5,000m, said: "I am using this as a specific event in the build-up to qualifying for the Paralympics.
"The last chance to hit the qualifying times comes at the end of the month in Switzerland, and I will be doing all I can to make sure I am there.
"My first event of the season was in January in Australia - I had the chance to hit the qualifying time then but I was about five seconds short.
"Everything since then has been building up to the World Cup. The squad gets announced in June, so people will want to catch the selectors' eyes."
With time running out fast ahead of Beijing, Patel knows he is not far off from drinking in the last-chance saloon.
"The World Cup is a special competition and everyone will want to lay down a marker ahead of the Paralympics," he said.
"It is just a case of having the right conditions and the right preparation.
"I enjoy going to Manchester and that is the main thing - it isn't the best track in the world as it is a bit soft for wheelchair racers.
"But competing in front of a home crowd is a real boost.
"I have built up a lot of experience over the years and that has helped get me through some of the harder times."
The Paralympic World Cup take place in Manchester from May 7-11. Tickets available on paralympicworldcup.com or by phoning 0871 230 5595. Text WorldCup2 to 84880 for more information.
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