Tehran, Dec 25, IRNA -- Iran will meet China Thursday in the final of the 17th Asian Youth Basketball Championships as it defeated Qatar in a nail-biting semifinal match in Kuwait on December 24.

In a cutthroat competition, Iran managed to overcome the national side of Qatar with a razor-thin difference.

Following a foul at the last moment of match, the judge gave Qatar two free throws while Iran had won 49-47.

Qatar reduced the gap as it took one more point by the first throw from the spot but the Qatari player could not make it for the second time as he failed to grab the equalizing basket and Iran won the close contest 49-48.

This is the first time that the Iranian team has squeezed into the final of the Asian event.

Iran will clash against the most powerful team of the tournament, China, in final on December 26 and the two teams of Qatar and South Korea will play for the third title.

In Tuesday's semifinal, the Chinese side defeated South Korea 103-90.