DUSHANBE, April 9, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan Youth team were pooled into Group C in the AFC U-19 Championship 2008.

The biennial Asian youth showpiece - the second largest AFC competition - will be staged between October 31 and November 14 at the Saudi Arabian cities of Al Khobar and Dammam and the draw saw several teams which had enjoyed glory in the past handed difficult ties.

Tajikistan is grouped with DPR Korea, China and Lebanon. 

Sixteen teams were divided on Sunday into four groups of four teams each.  Defending champions DPR Korea are top-speed, followed by the team they beat to clinch the title in India two years back, Japan.  

The four semi-finalists of the AFC U-19 Championship will represent Asia at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt next year.