Advantage India

NEW DELHI, October 24: When Indians are battling for world supremacy, here comes a skirmish for the top Asian tennis team. Asian domination in world tennis is something like Indian football8217;s standing in FIFA rankings. But for the two Indians 8212; Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who are making waves atleast in doubles 8212; Asian tennis is a mere whimper here and there.

So when the eight countries assemble here on November 3 for the US 22,000 top prize, India will already have one hand on the winner8217;s cheque, and it will be interesting to watch who could come anywhere near them.

Yet, there are players like Oleg Ogorodov Uzbekistan, who had beaten Paes in Chennai Challenger last year, and South Korea8217;s Yoong-Il Yoon, who is ranked higher than Bhupathi at 197. The Delhi Tennis Association8217;s DTA idea to hold such an event was unanimously approved by the Asian Tennis Federation ATF and it will be held here for the next five years. The teams have been selected on the basis of their performance in the zonal and Inter-zonal Davis Cup ties.