The history-making Indian mixed team of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara came agonisingly close to ending India’s 36-year wait for an Olympic medal in archery, but fell short to finish fourth here on Friday. The team had already created history by entering the semi-finals of the Summer Games for the first time.

But the duo lost 37-38, 35-37, 38-34, 35-37 to the American combine of World No.1 Casey Kaufhold and three-time Olympic-medallist Brady Ellison to join the fourth-finishers’ club at the Olympics. It was nonetheless the best-ever performance by an Indian team in the quadrennial showpiece.