Akash Malik became India's first Silver-medallist in archery at the Youth Olympic Games, providing a fitting finale to the country's best-ever campaign at the marquee event here.
The 15-year-old son of a farmer lost a one-sided final to Trenton Cowles of the USA 0-6 as India concluded with three Gold, nine Silver, and one Bronze at the event that was launched in 2010.
Seeded fifth after qualification, the Haryana-boy was inconsistent in the summit clash against the 15th seed Cowles, who only shot in 10s and 9s to wrap it up easily on Wednesday night.
In the three-setter, both the archers shot four perfect 10s, but Akash's two wayward 6s in the first and the third set proved to be the decisive factor. The summit clash was held under windy conditions following light rains.
"I have trained in the wind, but here it was too much. I was waiting for an opportunity but he (Cowles) was stronger and I had no chance," Akash said.
"I feel good but I lost the Gold medal," the 11th standard school-boy said after bettering Atul Verma's feat of a Bronze at the Nanjing edition of the Games in 2014.
Making a solid start to the final, Akash started off with a 10 but then he shot a 6 in his second arrow and concluded the first set with another perfect 10.
The American, on the other hand, remained consistent with scores of 10, 9, 9 to take the first set 28-26.
Stepping up his game, Cowles shot two 10s and a 9 in the second set to win it 29-27.
Under pressure in the third set, Akash shot another six that ruined his chances of a gold medal. He finished with two 10s but Cowles remained steady and sealed the issue 28-26 in the third set.
Earlier, Akash finished in the last eight of the mixed international team event partnering Turkey's Selin Satir. The duo lost in the quarter-finals to Thailand's Aitthiwat Soithong and Argentina's Agustina Sofia Giannasio.