Patna will be the venue of the second Rs four lakh Indian Grand Prix from November 3 to 6 while another Indian Grand Prix is billed for Bhopal from December 4 to 7. It will also carry a cash prize of Rs four lakh. The Indian Grand Prix finals will be conducted in Mumbai from December 28 to January 1, 1999.

An Indian Grand Prix for juniors, which carries a cash award of Rs three lakh, will be organised in Indore from October 27 to 30.

BAI secretary LC Gupta in a communication has informed that new scoring rules would be adopted. Setting will only be permitted when the score reaches 14-all (10-all in ladies singles). The choice will be either to continue the game to 15 points (11 in ladies singles) or to set the game to 17 points (13 in ladies singles). If player choose to set, the score is no longer called as `love-all' instead the score continues to be called at 17 or 13 as appropriate.

Another set of new rules is regarding the duration of interval. There will be an interval of 90 seconds between the first and second games and not exceeding five minutes between second and third games.

Coaching will now be allowed during both intervals. Players will not be permitted to leave the court during 90 seconds interval without the umpire's permission. The law that allows the players to leave the court during the five minutes interval remains unchanged.

Though any colour clothing for players is allowed in international meets, the BAI has allowed dominant white in national and other meets.