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SCMP Reporter

Talented sprinter Tang Yik-chun has been handed the opportunity of a lifetime - a year's training with some of the world's best athletes in the United States.

Tang will become the first athlete from Hong Kong to attend the US Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, California.  The 19-year-old has been given US$40,000 by the International Olympic Committee's Solidarity Fund on the recommendation of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee.

Tang, the Hong Kong 200m record-holder  and bronze medal  winner at the 2005 National Games, will train in California under the guidance of former US Olympic hurdles bronze medallist Tonie Campbell.

The California centre  provides venues and support facilities for nine Olympic sports - athletics, archery, canoeing, cycling, hockey, rowing, soccer, softball and tennis.

With athletics  about to be axed from the elite programme at the Sports Institute,  Tang said  he could not believe the timing.

'I have been worrying about my career because of the unclear future of the sport at the institute,' Tang said yesterday. 'Just when everything seems to be looking bleak,  I have been awarded this scholarship and I will be training with the world's best athletes. I just can't believe it is true.'

Tang is confident the  improvements he will make at the centre will help him reach the qualifying standard for Beijing 2008.

'The qualifying mark for 200 metres is 20.7 seconds which is not that far away from my Hong Kong record of 20.94. I am confident I can achieve that result after spending time at the centre,' he said.

Olympic committee honorary secretary-general Pang Chung said the scholarship had 'nothing to do with' the  imminent removal of athletics from  the elite programme.

'We know the youngster has had the potential to win medals at major games and that's why we recommend him for the fund,' said Pang. 'We have a good relationship with the USOC, therefore we are able to send him to the California centre.  It will be an intensive programme, with competition twice a week in various track meets across the US.'

Tang will still be able to represent Hong Kong  over the next year. 'He will come back to Hong Kong for major competitions, such as the  Asian Indoor Games in Macau this autumn and the Asian Championships,' Pang said. Athletics and tennis have failed to meet the elite levels at the Sports Institute in two successive reviews, and their futures will be  sealed at a final meeting of the Sports Commission, which assists the government in formulating sports policy.



Dream chance for Tang to train with world's best