Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain charged from behind to win the gold medal yesterday in the men's 1,500 metres, becoming a world champion like his Kenyan father before him.

Deresse Mekonnen of Ethiopia took the silver and Bernard Lagat of the United States, who was the defending champion, had to settle for the bronze as the Kenyans were shut out of the medals.

"I am really happy because nobody expected such a race today," said Kamel, who was born in Kenya but is now a naturalised citizen of Bahrain. "Nobody expected Yusuf to win the world title," the winner said.

Asian record holder

Kamel used his long stride to decide the race in the home straight, winning his first major title in three minutes, 35.93 seconds. He won the indoor bronze medal last year in the 800, a distance in which he also holds the Asian record.

Kamel's father, Billy Konchellah, won a pair of 800-metre world titles.

"My father won two world golds, now I want to get three to beat him," Kamel said.

"The two Kenyans were expected to win and I was watching out for them," Mekonnen said. "With 400 to go, I felt very comfortable. What I was concerned about was the final 50."