India Blows 3-1 Lead, Loses Recurve Mixed Bronze in Madrid

The Indians looked solid early. Dhiraj and Kirti split the opening set 38-38, then outscored the Italian pair of Roberta Di Francesco and Matteo Borsani 38-37 in the second to go up 3-1. But a shaky third set — India shot an 8 and a 9, finishing with 37 — let Italy in. The Italians posted a near-perfect 39 to level things at 3-3.

From there it wasn't close. Di Francesco and Borsani shot four 10s for a flawless 40 in the decisive fourth set. India managed 37. Final score: 3-5, bronze gone. For Dhiraj — the Antalya World Cup champion who took recurve mixed team gold with Kumkum Mohod at Stage 3 last month — it's a medal-less Stage 4. Tough result for a guy who's been one of India's more consistent recurve performers.

Kirti, 19 and on just her second World Cup appearance, still had individual semifinals to shoot later Sunday. A win there would earn her a first World Cup medal. India did leave Madrid with two compound medals from Saturday — a women's team bronze and a silver for Prithika Pradeep — so the trip wasn't a total washout.