Cold facts, tough tasks beckon India, Koreans hold advantage on home soil

Lee, however, would be a tough contender on home soil with cold climate on his side. Though Bhupathi does not have much practice for singles, his booming services should give him the upperhand against Lee, who was subdued in Delhi in the final of the ATF Asia Cup 1997.

India number one Leander Paes will take on Yong-Il Yoon, Bangkok Asian Games gold medallist, in the second singles tie which was decided here after draw of lots ceremony here.

8220;The contest is evenly matched, but Korea may get an upper hand due to weather conditions,8221; India8217;s non-playing captain Jaideep Mukherjea told PTI today.

8220;Weather is extremely cold, but the boys are stroking well. Both Paes and Bhupathi are in fine shape and form and should provide an exciting tennis here,8221; he said.

The doubles of the five-match rubber will be played between world beaters Paes-Bhupathi and Korea8217;s Lee-Yoon pair on Sunday. In the reverse singles, Paes takes on Lee in the first match while Bhupathi plays Yoon in the second reverse singles on Monday.

India was relegated to the Asia-Oceania Zonal qualifying round after it lost 2-3 to Britain in the World Group play off tie in Nottingham in September last year.

The Indian team 8212; Paes, Bhupathi, Prahlad Srinath and Syed Fazaluddin 8212; on paper looks compact and competent despite ATP rankings suggesting the South Koreans are better off.

The crack combination of paes and bhupathi, who finishedsecond in the world last season, should easily beat Korean doubles pair in Sunday8217;s tie, but lot will depend on Paes to win his singles encounters.

After getting four days to acclimatise to the cold conditions at the Seogwipo Tennis Centre in Cheju, an island resort, the Indians were raring to go into the rubber. The competition will be played on hard court surface.

Always difficult opponents the Koreans are ahead of India 3-2 in Davis record. They have never lost on home soil and this time it would be for the Indians to write a new chapter.

The winner of the rubber in New Zealand, to be played in September, will move into the elite World Group round of 16 for the 2000 Championship.

The Schedule

Friday: Mahesh Bhupathi vs Hyung Taek Lee 1st singles

Leander Paes vs Yong-Il Yoon 2nd singles

Saturday: Mahesh Bhupathi/ Leander Paes vs Hyung Taek Lee/ Yong-Il Yoon Doubles

Sunday: Leander Paes vs Hyung Taek Lee 1st reverse singles

Mahesh Bhupathi vs Yong-Il Yoon 2nd reverse singles