Istanbul, Dec 16 (IANS): Chinese Ye Shiwen claimed the women's 200-metre individual medley (IM) title at the 11th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) while American Ryan Lochte kept up his phenomenal form when he set a world record 50.71 seconds in the men's 100m IM semifinals.

Ye, world record holder and the Olympic and world champion of the 200m IM, attacked in the final 25m to win gold Saturday as she touched the wall in 2:04.64 to set a new championship record and win her first world short-course championship gold after having previously won three silver. It's China's second gold medal in Istanbul, reports Xinhua.

Long-time race leader Katinka Hosszu of Hungary held on to win the silver medal with 2:04.72 for her fourth medal of Istanbul 2012 while Britain's Hannah Miley overcame a sluggish first 150m to win bronze with 2:07.12 to add to her 400m IM gold.

"I'm so happy I came in first position today. It feels so good. I competed against her (Hosszu) many times in many events. She races in many different events. This time she was stronger than ever," said Ye.

"I thought 'for sure I won't give up'. I had a chance to come back because in the breaststroke she (Hosszu) is not so strong. Racing against Hosszu made me swim faster."

After breaking the 200m im world record Friday, Lochte appeared untouchable in his pursuit of the gold medal in the shorter distance.

He was already under world record time by the end of the butterfly leg and he continued to eat into it over the following three laps to time a new world record of 50.71.

The 15-year-old Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte added the 100m breaststroke title to the 50m breaststroke gold that she won earlier at Istanbul 2012 as she dominated the race to win with a new championship record of 1:03.52.

Alia Atkinson of Jamaica finished second in 1:03.80 while Denmark's Rikke Moeller Pedersen came home for bronze in 1:04.05.

Robert Hurley finally ended Australia's wait for a gold medal with victory in the men's 50m backstroke. Hurley touched the wall in 23.04 to beat the American Matthew Grevers in 23.17 and Russia's Stanislav Donets took the bronze in 23.19.

Nicholas Santos ended a similar wait with Brazil's first gold medal as he raced home in a championship record of 22.22 to win the men's 50m butterfly.

The 100m fly winner Chad Le Clos of South Africa took the silver in 22.26 while 100m fly silver medallist Thomas Shields took bronze in 22.46.

The United States won the women's 4x100m freesytle relay in 3:31.01. Australia held on for silver in 3:32.90 while Denmark took the bronze in 3:33.51.