The list contains Ri Myong Guk (male) and Kim Yong Ae (female) in football, Kim Chol Su (male) and Rim Yun Hui (female) in judo, Pang Kum Chol (male) and Pak Hyon Suk (female) in weightlifting and Kim Chon Man (male) and Choe Kum Hui (female) in diving.

The footballers proved successful in international and local tournaments held in 2009, winning popularity among football experts and fans.

The others achieved good results in the 2009 Judo World Championship, the 2009 Asian Judo Championship, the 40th Asian Men's Weightlifting Championship, the 21st Asian Women's Weightlifting Championship and the 5th East Asian Games.

Also included in the list are Yang Kyong Il (male) and Han Kum Ok (female) who bagged gold and silver medals respectively at the 55kg freestyle category and the 51kg category in the 2009 World Wrestling Championship and Kim Kum Chol (male) who won a bronze medal at the 66kg Greco-Roman category in the 2009 Asian Wrestling Championship.

Other selected best players are Paek Chung Hyok (male professional boxer), Kim Hye Song (female professional boxer), Sung Song Guk (male amateur boxer), Pak Kyong Ok (female amateur boxer), Kim Chol Song (male acrobatic gymnast) and Ri Jin Hwa (female acrobatic gymnast). They emerged winners in local tournaments such as the Mangyongdae Prize Sports Contest and the National Championship held last year.