Gold medallist Japan's Takashi Yamamoto poses with his medal following the award ceremony for the men's 100m butterfly swimming finals at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 3, 2006. [Reuters]

Defending champion Takashi Yamamoto came from behind to grab the men's 100m butterfly gold at the Asian Games here on Sunday.

The silver medalist in the 200m fly in the Athens Olympic Games, clocked 52.54 seconds to become the first male swimmer to triumph in the same event for three consecutive times in the Asian Games.

His teammate Ryo Takayasu took the silver in 52.84 while Chinese Wang Dong settled for third in 53.03.