The Koreans have virtually conceded a walkover to host India by announcing a depleted team for the Asia-Oceania group-1 Davis Cup tie to be played on grass at the Chandigarh Club from July 15 to 17.
The 19-year-old Seong Chan Hong, ranked 452, will spearhead the Korean challenge, in the absence of the team’s top three players Hyeon Chung (107), Lee Duckhee (201) and Soon Woo Kwon (433).
The other members of the Korean team will be Yong-Kyu Lim (622), Yunseong Chung (642) and Hong Chung (676), who are ranked 9th to 11th in Korea, on the basis of their world rank. The first player has figured in two Davis Cup ties and the second in 15. The rest will be making their debut.
In contrast, India will field Saketh Myneni (147), Ramkumar Ramanathan (231) and the doubles stars Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes. Of course, the 28-year-old Saketh has played only three ties while Ramkumar will be making his Davis Cup debut. The 36-year-old Bopanna has played 22 ties and the 43-year-old Paes has played in 52 ties since his debut in 1990.
The winner of the tie will qualify for the World Group play-off to be staged in September.
Korea leads India 6-4 in Davis Cup. But India won the last tie between the two countries in Korea in 2014.
India had made it to the World Group play-off the last two years but had lost to Serbia and the Czech Republic.
While India had a bye in the first round this season, a full-fledged Korea had beaten New Zealand 3-1 in Seoul, to earn the right to challenge India.
Comments
SHARE