HONG KONG'S Davis Cup team will be unable to gauge the strength of their Group Two first-round opponents at this week's Salem Asian Championships with India deciding not to enter the event.
At yesterday's draw for the Victoria Park event, Hong Kong's Davis Cup representative Melvin Tong was given a tough first-round assignment against Filipino Joseph Lizardo.
But there will be no Indians in the tournament after they failed to respond to an invitation sent by the Hong Kong Tennis Association.
Hong Kong face an away match against India in February with the winners going on to a World Group qualifier against Japan or the Philippines.
Top seed in the men's singles competition, South Korea's Asian Games finalist Yoon Yong-il, has a first-round bye and plays the winner of the Tong-Lizardo match in the second round.
Indonesia's second seed, Suwandi Suwandi, also has a first-round bye.