HEREFORDSHIRE’S Sascha Kindred has laughed off suggestions Beijing will be his Paralympic swansong and insisted he will get even quicker in the years to come.

The 31-year-old swim star will compete in the 200m individual medley, 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly in China, in what will be his fourth Paralympic Games having clinched breaststroke silver on his debut in Atlanta 12 years ago.

Since then, the Leominster Kingsfisher SC member, who will compete at this week’s Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, has established himself as a world star, landing double gold in Sydney and Athens as well as a host of World and European titles.

Kindred confirmed his status as the man to beat when he broke his own 200m individual medley world record in 2.46.10 minutes en route to the British title in April, where he also topped the podium in the 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.

“The team is getting younger and there is a lot of talent coming through,” said Kindred.

“This will be my fourth Paralympics as I started in Atlanta and won silver and London is still an aim. I think I will still be fit enough in 2012 but know I will have to keep working hard as the 2008 challengers will be four years older in London.

“I will be the favourite in Manchester, as I will be in Beijing but it won’t affect me as I know my training is going well and I am in good shape. The time I set at the trials was awesome and while there will be added pressure I know how to deal with it.” More than 400 athletes from 45 countries will compete across four sports; athletics, track cycling, swimming and wheelchair basketball.

Meanwhile, Kindred’s long-term partner Nyree Lewis, 27, heads to Manchester this weekend on a vital Paralympic intelligence mission.

The reigning 100m backstroke Paralympic champion will go head-to-head with several of her Beijing rivals at the Paralympic World Cup on Saturday. And Lewis, who was formally selected for the Great Britain Games team last week, hopes for more than just a watching brief.

"Although the Paralympics is the obvious focus, the World Cup is the biggest event outside that and I really want to win again," she said. "Most of the world's top 10 will be there, so it's a good chance to have a look at your rivals and get the upper hand before Beijing.

"There is one girl from China, Fuying Jiang, who I'm particularly looking forward to seeing.

"She got silver in at the World Championships in Durban and will race in the 100m backstroke, so it is a good chance to see her progress.

"A lot of other countries let their top swimmers go to other countries' trials but the Chinese don't seem to travel so this is a rare chance to see them in action."

The Paralympic World Cup continues until May 11. Tickets are available on www.paralympicworldcup.com or by phone on 0871 230 5595. Text WORLDCUP2 to 84880 for more information.