Korean tactics 'rob' India of place in Asia Cup final

India were robbed off a place in the final of the ATF Asia Cup as Korea 'threw' their match against Thailand 1-2 to keep the hosts at bay.

Korea, who are the strongest among the four participating nations, were assured of a berth in the final following two straight 3-0 wins. Another victory on Saturday would have meant a Korea-India final in the fourth edition of the event.

"We were robbed of the place in the final. We've been cheated...it's daylight robbery in our own country," an upset Mahesh Bhupathi told reporters after the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association decided to lodge an official complaint with the Asian Tennis Federation.

Korea fielded their third player to play the opening singles and Thai No.2 Attapol Rittiwattanapong thrashed him 6-3, 6-3, in just 50 minutes, to give Thailand a 1-0 lead.

The best rated player of the tournament Korean Hyung-Taik Lee, who has been in tremendous form took identical time in beating Danai Udomchoke 6-3, 6-1 to draw level.

After the two teams were locked 1-1, word spread of a possible rehearsed game-plan, of the Koreans conceding defeat in the crucial doubles.

As the tie between Supparat Chukawan/Danai Udomchoke and Seung-Hun Lee/Yong-Il Yoon unfolded, one could see through Korea's tactics and the result 6-1, 6-4 seemed to comfirm it.

While it was in the air that "Thailand would cause an upset", Korean captain Won-Hong Joo, who preferred not to sit in his designated chair during the first tie and the doubles match, blurted out their infamous game-plan later.

Joo said: "Players had decided that it would be easy to play Thailand in the final than India. Also winning here would mean the prize-money will go to the players unlike in other team competitions such as Davis Cup where the prize amount goes to the association.

"It was their wish. Players are convinced that Thailand would be an easy opponent," he told reporters.

ATF officials -- tournament referee Nao Kawatei and chief executive S Uttarapati -- however, refused to budge.

"We'll have a meeting and listen to what the Indian team management have to say," Uttarapati said.

Kawatei on the other hand dismissed the allegations saying he was not aware of what the Korean captain had said.

Asked which rules he would apply if India's complaint is accepted, Kawatei said while all the team events organised by ATF apply Davis Cup rules, "I did not find anything awry. May be the Koreans were tired and Thailand played well," Kawatei said.

Organisers DLTA were, however, quick to react saying they would take the issue up very seriously with ATF.

"It appears that best efforts were not put by the Koreans. They played with the intention of not playing (against) India," said organising secretary Akhouri Bishwadeep.

"We definitely feel the Indian team was robbed of a place in the final. This is a general feeling," he said, adding that both DLTA and All India Tennis Association have decided to lodge a protest.

"The grapevine -- that Korea may lose to Thailand to keep us out -- was buzzing since last evening and we had spoken to proper authorities but they laughed it off," he said.