Sir Chris shoots some hoops but will stay in the saddle

SIR Chris Hoy has met his match after the four-time Olympic champion tried his hand at wheelchair basketball at the BT Paralympic World Cup.

SHOOTING HOOPS: Sir Chris Hoy tries his hand at wheelchair basketball but will not be abandoning the saddle just yet (actionimages)

The 33-year-old flying Scot, who became Great Britain's most successful male Olympian in a century after his Beijing fireworks, took part in the final Team GB training session, along with former Paralympic bronze medallist Ade Adepitan.

And Hoy, who has resumed full training since suffering a hip injury that ruled him out of the World Track Champ ionships in March, insists it's of paramount importance to boost the profile of disability sport - but he won't be swapping the velodrome for the court just yet.  

"It was pretty hard work be honest, I got a fair old sweat on by the end of it, but just to see it first hand and experience it for myself," he said.

"It was very physical - a tough, demanding sport that left me pretty exhausted and I wasn't even playing properly.

"It's hugely important to showcase Paralympic sport just as much as Olympic sport, or all sport for that matter, regardless of anyone's fitness or abilities.

"At the end of the day it's just about getting people involved in sport - not just about elite level but all the way down.

"The British Olympic cyclists and the para-cyclists are just one big team really. The Paralympic team had incredible success.

"The Olympic team did well but the Paralmypic guys won even more gold medals so it's great to have such strength."

Two of Hoy's former Great Britain team-mates Craig MacLean and Sydney 2000 gold medallist Jason Queally have now joined the Paralympic ranks, as pilots to Team GB's growing tandem squad.

Queally has teamed up with 2008 Paralympic champion Anthony Kappes and the duo - although they are not allowed to raced competitively until 2010 - will attempt to break the tandem kilo world record.

"I see Jason and Craig trying out piloting all the time and have been a witness to their transition into tandem racing.," added Hoy.

"For Craig it wasn't such a big deal because he had ridden tandems before but for Jason it was very foreign.

"He had never done it before and it's a very different sensation from riding a solo bike so he's been working really hard on his skills, and obviously he's got Anthony powering away behind, so as a team they're going to be pretty impressive.

"As far as I'm concerned I guess you have to wait and see what happens in your career.

"You want to keep going a competing at the highest level for as long as possible but at the end of your career you may have a family and your priorities change, but I love riding my bike."  

* The BT Paralympic World Cup is taking place in Manchester from 20-25 May with over 400 competitors from over 31 countries scheduled to compete. Go towww.btparalympicworldcup.com for more information