Can these Chinese women’s footballers make a clean sweep at the 2019 AFC Annual Awards?
- Li Ying is front-runner for top women’s category after solid performances at the 2019 World Cup in France
- Previous winners include former PSG star Wang Shuang and new Chelsea signing Sam Kerr
Chinese football star Li Ying is one of the front-runners for this year’s coveted AFC Women’s Player of the Year award after an outstanding season for club and country.
If victorious at the 2019 AFC Annual Awards, to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on December 2, the 26-year-old striker would join the elite company of 2018 winner and former PSG star Wang Shuang, of China, and 2017 winner and new Chelsea signing Sam Kerr, of Australia.
Fellow category nominees include Loitongbam Ashalata Devi of India and Saki Kumagai of Japan.
Chongqing-born Li was an integral part of the China national team’s campaign at the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in France this summer, scoring the Steel Roses' only goal and guiding them to the round-of-16.
Li was also top scorer with two goals at the 2019 Fifa Four Nations Tournament in China as the home team defeated higher-ranked South Korea in the final.
On a club level, Li’s performances for Guangdong Huijun this season ensured the newly promoted team survived their first season in the China Women’s Super League.
