Football: Japan defender Takahashi wins AFC Women's Player of the Year

Japan defender Hana Takahashi was named the Asian Football Confederation Women's Player of the Year for the first time on Thursday in Riyadh, becoming the sixth Japanese recipient of the award.The 25-year-old helped her club Urawa Reds win the Empress' Cup in January before steering Nadeshiko Japan to their first win at the SheBelieves Cup in February, beating hosts the United States 2-1 in the decisive match."I am deeply honored...it is tremendously encouraging to have my efforts from last season recognized," Takahashi, who enjoyed a strong season as a makeshift forward, said on the AFC we…READ FULL ARTICLE