10 October 2004	Sunday	24 Shaban 1425

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct 9: Oussama Mellouli won Tunisia's first global swim crown here Friday, capturing the 400-meter individual medley at the World Short Course championship after injured favourite Michael Phelps withdrew.

Phelps, whose eight Athens Olympics medals included six golds and both IM titles, withdrew on Friday after doctors advised him not to compete due to a back injury. Phelps, who won the 200 freestyle Thursday, entered four other events.

That opened the door for Mellouli, fifth in the 400 IM at Athens and third in last year's long course world c hampionships. He won in 4 mins, 7.02 secs with Britain's Robin Francis second in 4:08.06.

"I'm really happy being the first world champion from Tunisia. It feels great," Mellouli said. "This is the first gold medal ever for my country so that just makes it unbelievable. I'm just so happy right now. It was great to hear our national anthem in the US. I will always remember that."

Mellouli, 20, had the year's best short course 400 IM time but knew Phelps would be the man to beat.

Americans won five of eight titles Friday after sweeping five finals Thursday.

Olympic 100 and 200 backstroke champion Aaron Peirsol won the 100 back crown in 50.72 with Aussie Matt Welsh, a double backstroke medalist at Sydney, second in 51.04.

Americans Ian Crocker and Brendan Hansen won titles in the same events where they finished second at the Athens Olympics in a 50m pool.

Crocker won the 100 butterfly in 50.18, .95 of a second ahead of Britain's James Hickman. Hansen captured the 100 breaststroke in 58.45 with Aussie Brenton Rickard second in 58.64.

Australia's Brooke Hanson, the Olympic 100 breaststroke runner-up, won the 50 breast crown in 30.20, one-hundredth of a second ahead of Jade Edmistone, who set a world record of 29.90 last month in her hometown, Brisbane.

Japan's Sachiko Yamada won the 800 freestyle title in 8:18.21, beating American runner-up Kate Ziegler by 2.34 seconds. Yamada was 12th in the event at the Athens Games.

American Haley Cope captured the 100 backstroke title in 59.03 with China's Gao Chang second in 59.61, .03 ahead of Aussie Sophie Eddington.

US veteran Jenny Thompson, in her farewell meet, led 50 butterfly finalists in 26.34.-AFP