HONGKONG'S top track and field athletes will be chasing big money bonuses in their build-up for next year's Asian Games in Hiroshima. Watson's Water are offering $50,000 to any competitors who attains certain standards in their respective events. The standards have been set by Watson's in a bid to raise local athletes' performances in time for the Asian Games. The sponsors, however, may not have to dig very deep into their kitty as less than a handful of athletes seem capable of beating the standards, which are all well inside the national records. ''I must admit the standards we set are very high but we are not giving away money for nothing and these standards are definitely not out of reach,'' said Mike Field, Watson's sports development manager. ''We don't expect everybody to get the money but at least two or three athletes are very close to the standard and they should have a fairly good chance of winning the award.'' A favourite to pick up the prize must be woman hurdler Chan Sau-ying, whose best time of 13.35 seconds for the 100 metres hurdles is only 0.05 of a second behind the standard. United States-based Chan will make her first attempt at beating the mark at the World University Games in Buffalo today. Garry Brown, head athletics coach of the Hongkong Sports Institute, said: ''I have high expectations for Chan, who should come closest to achieving the standard time we've set. ''Chan is determined to win a medal at the Asian Games. She certainly has the ability and dedication to make it in Hiroshima.'' Brown also picked woman distance runner Mandy Lo Man-yi and man high jumper Cheung Yu-ho as the other most likely candidates for the Watson's awards. Lo's best marathon effort was just under nine minutes away from the standard of two hours and 38 minutes while 21-year-old Cheung's personal best for the high jump is 2.10 metres, which is 10 centimetres outside the mark. Although not named by Brown as a leading contender, Olympic sprinter Neville Ku Wai-ming is confident he can beat the 10.40 standard. Ku, who aims to better his national record of 10.60 seconds at tonight's Hongkong Youth Invitational meeting at Wan Chai Sports Ground, said: ''It is tough but I know I can do it. ''I may have to wait until the Asian Championships in November to do it but I'm hopeful of beating the mark twice before the Asian Games and collecting the money.'' Ku acknowledged that his medal hopes are virtually nil in Hiroshima unless he is able to beat 10.40 seconds and he will be putting in extra effort to achieve the mark as he does not want to be among the also-rans. Brown, however, added: ''The qualifying standards set by the HKAAA for the Asian Games are much easier but we want to develop people who can be medal prospects. ''The Asian Games in Hiroshima will undoubtedly be one of the most competitive track and field events the region will witness with a couple of former Soviet states being included. ''Winning a place in the finals would be an admirable achievement but we could be in with medal chances if our athletes can consistently beat the standards set for the Watson's incentive scheme.''
