Aggar admits late Worlds has altered his London 2012 preparations

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

PARALYMPIC rower Tom Aggar insists he can live with the pressure of becoming the hunted as he steps up his bid to become a world champion for the third time in four years.

CONFIDENT: Tom Aggar is ready to deliver on the hype at the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand later this year (Getty Images)

Four years ago Aggar was the hunter when he set out on his rowing adventure, but he's now the man to beat as the reigning Paralympic and world champion in the ASM1x class.

The 26-year-old was also named the International Rowing Federation's first Adaptive Rower of the Year in January and will be the red-hot favourite to retain his world crown in New Zealand in the autumn.

Aggar realises his past record now goes before him, but he can't wait to prove his worth once again on Lake Karapiro.

"It was kind of easier in a way when I started the sport because you are looking then to see how everyone else is doing and trying to chase everyone else down," said Aggar.

"But now everyone else is chasing me down and seeing what I am doing, so you are trying to find extra so that people can't catch me. Now it is a bit of a different ball game.

"People will be looking to go well against me at the World Championships, just like I will want to get a gauge on how they are getting on.

"It's going to be a great competition, so I will have to be at my best, but I can't wait for them to come around."

Aggar already has World Cup wins to his name from Italy and Slovenia. On both occasions he beat compatriot Andy Houghton into second and is chomping at the bit to get to New Zealand.

The World Championships normally take place in the summer, but don't begin until October 30 this time around, and Aggar has revealed that will affect his London 2012 preparations.

He added: "I'm going really well at the minute and really wish the World Championships were coming sooner.

"We usually have them in August or September but this year it is a bit different because they are in New Zealand in October and November.

"It is a bit different and you do worry more about injuries and things. Then it puts a bit more pressure on 2011, which is the qualification year for London 2012.

"It's a bit scary because we come back from the World Championships and then it is Christmas, and then we pretty much start again from January."