HO CHI MINH CITY (AFP) - The form of North Korea and China at the Women's Asian Cup has given them a major boost heading into the Olympics where they are aiming to upset the heavyweight nations.

North Korea edged defending champions China 2-1 in Sunday's final here with second half goals from skipper Ri Kum-Suk and Kim Yong-Ae cancelling out Bi Yan's 11th-minute strike.

Asia's other representative at the Beijing Olympics, Japan, finished third after beating Australia 3-0 in a play-off match.

The Koreans, Asia's top-ranked team, have a tough Olympic draw after being pitted alongside last year's World Cup winners Germany and runners-up Brazil.

But Korean coach Kim Kwang-Min was full of praise for his side after they defeated China and is confident they have what it takes to do well at the Games in August.

"We got the victory because we had a great performance with plenty of spirit and technical ability," he said.

"It was important that our spirit was high and ours was strong throughout the tournament.

"The Olympic Games will have some very high level football and strong teams so we need to prepare well for it. We can still improve our technical and physical ability."

China, who will benefit from a vocal home crowd at the Olympics, where they have been drawn alongside Canada, Argentina, and Sweden, took plenty of positives from the Asian Cup despite losing the final.

But coach Shang Ruihua knows they still have work to do.

"This was the best game for us in the Asian Cup," he said of the final.

"The attacking and defending from both sides was very good. We needed to control the game more and have more self confidence but the players tired and we conceded two goals."

Japanese coach Norio Sasaki believes his side's efforts bode well for the Olympics, where they are grouped with defending champions the United States, 2000 winners Norway, and New Zealand.

"We didn't start the game (against Australia) too well as we struggled with the conditions of the pitch as well as our own physical condition," he said.

"But we stayed calm and played the ball as we wanted to do and kept our rhythm and we got the opening goal.

"We now look towards the Olympics and I believe this tournament has been good for our players. The younger players have grown with the experience while it has also improved the consistency of our older players."

Unlike the men's Olympic football competition, which is restricted to players under 23 years old, plus three older players, the women's teams can field their strongest line-ups, irrespective of age.