Homare Sawa is voted Asia's best

Sawa, a key member of the Japan team that finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics, also won the award when Japan reached the quarterfinal of the 2004
Athens Olympics.

"Japan played well this year and I put in some good performances,'' Sawa said.

"I guess that's why they gave me the award.''

The 30-year-old Sawa has played in more than 130 matches and scored more than 60 goals in her 15-year career spanning four Women's World Cups and three Olympic Games.

Kim Kwang-min was named women's Coach of the Year after leading North Korea to this year's Asian Cup title, with that effort also giving North Korea the award as National Team of the Year.

Japan's Mana Iwabuchi, who was named MVP at the under-17 Women's World Cup, won the women's youth Player of the Year award.

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