Pistorius heads stellar Paralympic World Cup line-up

By Paul Carter in Manchester

Triple Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has said he is back to full fitness and relishing a return to action at this year’s 2009 Paralympic World Cup.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the official opening of the five day event in Manchester, Pistorius said that he had been training hard over the past couple of months, and was “feeling a lot better and a lot stronger” following a serious boating accident back in March.

He said: “The first couple of week’s recovery was difficult but the last couple of weeks I’ve had a really great time on the track.”

The South African, who will be competing in the 400m for the first time at the Paralympic World Cup, as well as the 100m, said that the quality of the field is improving year on year.

“I was looking at the starting line up for the 100m and I don’t think we’ve had such a strong line-up ever at the PWC and I’m looking forward to it. Every time I run here it’s becoming a stronger and stronger event,” he said.

Phil Lane, chief executive of ParalympicsGB said that 174 medallists from the Beijing Paralympics would be competing in Manchester, which he said was “a fantastic testimony to the quality of the event, and shows just how important the Paralympic World Cup is in the overall sporting calendar for athletes.”

“In many respects this is the first step along the way to the major event for Great Britain, which is the games in London in 2012.

“It’s the first chance for many of these athletes to step back into the international arena since Beijing and to begin their preparations and to weigh up some of the opposition they will be facing in London.”

The Paralympic World Cup, which features wheelchair basketball, swimming, athletics and track cycling, takes place from 20-24 May.