DOHA, Feb 16 — China’s Pan Zhanle won the men’s 100 metres freestyle title at the world championships in Doha yesterday, establishing his status as one of the favourites for Olympic gold in five months’ time.

The 19-year-old came home in 47.53sec, 0.19sec ahead of Italian Alessandro Miressi with Hungarian Nandor Nemeth third at 0.25.