Former champions India faced a tough task of keeping up their morale high in the absence of tennis ace Leander Paes, and a difficult draw handed to them with a opening tie against South Korea at the four-nation ATF as Cup 2000, which gets underway in New Delhi on Tuesday. Regional powerhouse South Korea have arrived with their Davis Cup team featuring current Asian top player Hyung-Taik Lee and Yong-Il Yoon making them pre-tournament favourites.
The format of the Asia Cup, which hitherto had eight men's teams contesting for the honours, has been changed with the women's event being included from this year's fourth edition.
Besides India and Korea, Thailand and China are participating in the men's event, while the women's tournament will see three teams - India, Thailand and China - vie for the Asian supremacy.
Doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi will lead the Indian challenge with Davis cuppers Harsh Mankad, Syed Fazaluddin and National Hardcourt Champion Nitin Kirtane making up the quartet. Davis Cup Captain Ramesh Krishnan will be the non-playing captain.
India was drawn to meet Korea on Wednesday while Thailand and China face each other in the inaugural tie on Tuesday.
In the women's section, Indian girls open their campaign on Tuesday against Thailand with their second tie against China on Wednesday.
The draw for the 90,000 event was made by Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley with tournament referee Nao Kawatei of Japan assisting him.

Bureau Report