Francesco Cantando of Italy, aboard a Singha F1 Racing boat, won the UIM F1 Powerboat World Championship - held for the first time in India at Mumbai on Sunday.

Initially lagging behind his country mate and hot favourite Guido Capellini, Cantando, who had narrowly missed the world title last year, zoomed past other contenders to win the 60-lap race, held off Mumbai shores in the Arabian Sea.

Capellini Guido, on a Tamoil boat, finished second while Team Green driver Laith Pharaon of Saudi Arabia finished third.

Another title contender Scot Gillman of the US, on an Emirates boat, could not complete the race, possibly due to a technical snag.