The Early Years
First contested in 1985, a hard-fought final saw penalties being needed to decide the winners after the tie ended goalless, with Saudi Arabia edging hosts Qatar 4-3. 

The first three editions were annual affairs and the following year saw Qatar suffering penalty-shootout agony on home soil again, this time losing 5-4 to Korea Republic in the final.

Inaugural champions Saudi Arabia regained the title in 1988, defeating Bahrain 2-0 in the final. 

1990-98
After two heartbreaking defeats, Qatar finally laid their hands on the trophy as the tournament became a biennial affair, with the West Asian side defeating United Arab Emirates 2-0 in the final. 

They would go on to make the finals of the next two editions, only to lose to China PR - again on penalties - and Japan in 1992 and 1994 respectively. 

Oman had their name engraved on the trophy in 1996 after defeating Thailand, who would bounce back in style to claim the 1998 title at Qatar's expense. 

2000-2010
The next four editions saw teams becoming two-time winners, with Oman defeating Islamic Republic of Iran 1-0 in the 2000 final.

Korea Republic beat Yemen on penalties to claim the 2002 title with China PR (2004) and Japan (2006) both defeating DPR Korea to claim the title for a second time. 

Iran ended their wait to lay their hands on the trophy with a 2-1 win over Korea Republic in 2008 with DPR Korea then becoming the next first time winners after a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the 2010 final. 

2012-18
Uzbekistan buried the memory of their 2010 loss on home soil with a penalty shootout win against Japan in the 2012 final while DPR Korea won their second title two years later, triumphing 2-1 against Korea Republic. 

Iraq rose to the occasion in 2016, defeating Iran 4-3 on penalties after the final ended goalless.

Japan, in defeating a valiant Tajikistan, won a record-breaking third title two years later and with the tournament now rebranded, a gleaming new trophy awaits its first champions.