DPR Korea are seeking a fourth Continental title and based on their form against Vietnam, the East Asians will be a tough team to beat in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Thailand 2019.

The Live Monitor is being used for the first time in AFC competitions and the Group A teams - Australia, Bangladesh, Japan and hosts Thailand - experienced its benefits first hand in Chonburi, Thailand on Sunday.

Both sides had their chances to win the tie, but neither managed to hold their nerve in front of goal in a hard-fought tournament opener at IPE Chonburi Stadium.

Goalkeeper Miranda Templeman starred for Australia, who became the first side to avoid defeat against Japan in the opening game of the competition since DPR Korea in 2007.

With Japan and Australia having played to a goalless draw in the tournament opener earlier on Sunday, the win took Thailand to the top of the Group A standings at the end of Matchday One in Group A.

While World Cups, club titles and major individual awards would follow, many of Asia’s women’s football icons began their careers on the same stage which greets a new generation of players in Chonburi in the AFC U-16 Women's Championship Thailand 2019.

As the Continent waits to see which promising youngsters will emerge in Thailand, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship's graduates.

With Sunday’s highly-anticipated tournament openers drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com breaks down the contenders in the first of a two-part series looking at the competition ahead in Chonburi.

Defending champions DPR Korea are joined by 2017 runners-up Korea Republic, as well as China PR and a Vietnam outfit appearing at the Finals for the first time, in a series of matches guaranteed to send at least one heavyweight home early.