DPR Korea's Kim Kum-il with the MVP trophy.

Yosuke Kashiwagi (Japan)– Proved to be Japan’s main playmaker, a man to be feared and thoroughly marked. This is what Saudi coach Gilson Nunes had to say about the Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder after their quarterfinal defeat: “He is an exceptional player. Japan’s game plan revolves around him. I was forced to introduce a defender in the second half to tie him down.” Not content with creating innumerable goal-scoring chances for his team mates, Kashiwagi, who struck a devastating partnership with striker Yasuhito Morishima, also tucked away two three goals for himself, including one in the Final. A player in the Hidetoshi Nakata mould!

Yasuhito Morishima (Japan)– With his breakneck speed and top-class finishing, the Cerezo Osaka striker made his mark on rival defences and made himself indispensable for Japan coach Yasuhito Yoshida, who was spoilt for choice when it came to arranging the frontline. Extremely strong in the air, Morishima scored three goals, two of these against hapless Tajikistan.

Tsukasa Umesaki (Japan)– He came into the tournament with a good reputation and lived up to it right until the Final when he botched up his spot-kick. Umesaki’s offensive style of play made for edge-of-the-seat watching and made Japan coach Yasushi Yoshida reach out for the superlatives. “He is the backbone of our team and has a bright future.” Umesaki should treasure these words as Yoshida has proved to be amazingly miserly in praising his charges. A natural orchestrator of raids with an eye for angles up-front, the 19-year-old formed a productive partnership with Morishima and Kashiwagi to torment the opposition.

Kim Kum-il (DPR Korea)– Few people had heard about Kim Kum-il before this tournament. Fourteen days and an astonishing performance later, Kim Kum-il will leave India as one of the finds of this year’s competition. The midfielder scored four goals, including the match winner against Jordan in the semifinals. But it was his pulling of the strings in the centre of the park which caught the eye. Kim Kum-il, deservingly named Most Valuable Player, proved efficient in harnessing the many strengths of his team’s strikers and a clinical finisher when the situation demanded. He is definitely made for bigger things and should be a stand-out player in next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.

Ala’a Khshen (Iraq)– It is difficult to find fault with a striker who hits the net four times in as many outings. Khshen proved to be Iraq’s goal-scorer par excellence and rival defenders’ nightmare. Blessed with that vital ingredient every striker is expected to possess, speed, Khshen’s amazing pace found him unshackled and in menacing positions most of the time. His first goal of the tournament against Saudi Arabia, which leveled the score 1-1 in a match which ended 2-2, will remain etched in the minds of the spectators for long. Released on to a through ball, Khshen and the ball turned into a blur and before the Saudi defence could realize what had happened, the Iraqis were celebrating. Much more to come from this speedster!

Mohamed Al Sahlawi (Saudi Arabia) – It will indeed be a surprise if Al Sahlawi does not pull on the Saudi senior team shirt in the coming years. A stylish player with zero inhibitions when faced with tough-tackling defenders, Al Sahlawi proved capable of not only scoring goals but getting them in an eye-catching manner. Solid dribbling skills, a natural ability to read the game flawlessly and ease into good positions, and poise before goal saw the striker grabbing three goals. An inspirational leader who sent pulses racing and raised the tempo with his surging runs and opportunism, the Al Qadsiya youth player seems destined for greatness in the years to come.

Shim Young-sung (Korea Republic): The lanky Jeju United stalwart was the mainstay of the Korea Republic frontline. Superb coordination with his strike partner Shin Young-rok, and lethal finishing, piled up the pressure on rival defences and goal-scoring opportunities. Young-sung’s uncanny knack of reading the game and his goalscoring abilities helped him find the net five times and claim the tournament’s Top Goalscorer award.

Shin Young-rok (Korea Republic): The Suwon Bluewings striker ripped open rival defences with his speedy runs and skillful dribbling and was never short of energy, coming in handy for coach Cho Dong-hyun. He scored four goals in the tournament, including a hat-trick against Kyrgyzstan, with his well-calculated strikes. It is only a matter of time, observers predict, before this talented Ruud van Nistelrooy fan gets a senior team call-up.

Jo Su-huk (Korea Republic): Standing 6 ‘1’ tall in his boots, Jo's acrobatic goalkeeping talents made everyone sit up and take notice. The youngster did not allow the ball to cross the line even once in the group stage and was instrumental in the team’s progress to the knockout stage. Though his flawless record went for a toss in the knockout stage, he nonetheless proved to be an inspirational presence between the posts.

Wang Yongpo (China): China’s gameplan heavily spun around Wang Yongpo’s brilliance, his consistency and the ability to penetrate rival defences, making him a firm favourite with coach Jia Xiauquan. Yongpo, who plays for Shandong Luneng, succeeded in delivering a commanding performance. Good in aerial challenges and a key component of Chinese setpieces, Yongpo’s speed and accuracy make him the most lethal weapon in the vast Chinese arsenal.

Loiy Al Zaideh (Jordan): The West Asian team’s fairytale run in the competition was largely due to flashes of individual brilliance and Loiy Al Zaideh stood tall in this department. The striker’s opening goal against China in the quarterfinals served a caution to their much-fancied rivals and also infused confidence in his teammates. Al Zaideh orchestrated his side’s attacks superbly while his speed and tendency to score from any angle made him a match-winning proposition.