``We have kept the cheque ready and would be sending it to his family soon,'' an MCA official said. Doctor Alok Sharma will be joined by Japanese professor Tetsuo Kanno, who pioneered the kind of specialised treatment, in the operation at LTMG Hospital. Meanwhile, BCCI has decided to play a benefit match here with past and present Test stars to raise funds for Parkar's treatment.

Racing awards
Mumbai: ITC announced the 1997-98 racing awards at a press meet here on Saturday. Well-known owner Dr M A M Ramaswamy topped the table of owners category by winning 20 points. Jockey S Narredu scored 30 while trainer Robert Foley walked away with 20 points in his category.

Poonawalla Group of Farms was adjudged The Champion Stud Farm Category with 596 points.In the special category Zavary S Poonawalla was selected for the Hall Of Fame Award for his concept of Million events introduced in the country and laying all weather track at Mahalakshmi and Pune.

Budget blues
New Delhi: Despite a good year for Indian sports, the Budget for 1999-2000 has not proposed any hike in incentives for promotion of sports, while slashing allocation for creation of infrastructure. Incentives stay at Rs 4 crore, while outlay for infrastructure has been reduced from Rs 11.35 crore to Rs 6.31 crore.

Gopi puls out
Bangalore: National champion P Gopi Chand has pulled out of the Swedish Open next month after falling ill at the Imphal National Games. However, Gopi Chand would take part in the All England Championship beginning on March 9. Gopi, Nikhil Kanetkar (men), National champion Aparna Popat (women) and men's doubles champions Vincent Lobo & Jaseel Ismail have direct entries at Birmingham.

Double for Kirtane
Madurai: SandeepKirtane of Maharashtra won his first majot national title since 1995 when he thrashed National Games champion Vinod Sridhar 6-4 6-1 in the first leg of the Gold Flake Aces tour today. Sandeep, pairing Saurav Panja, earlier won the doubles title, defeating Vijay Kannan and Vinod Sridhar 6-2 4-6 6-3.

Natl cross country
Bangalore: Nearly 600 athletes will be vying for top honours in the fourth AAFI Federation Cup National Cross Country Championships to be held in Kanakapura in Bangalore. It would be a selection meet for the World Cross Country Championships to be held in Great Britain on March 28.

Assam advance
New Delhi: Assam and Mizoram waged grim battles to move into the semi-finals of the 21st sub-junior (u-16) National football championship today. Assam rallied to beat Bihar 2-1 while Mizoram, despite a 1-1 draw against Delhi, finished second in their pool.