United States, which has a record four World Cup titles overall and was trying to win an unprecedented third consecutive tile, was eliminated in the Round of 16 for the first time in team history
The 31-year-old from Kerala bounced back from an opening game reversal but squandered a five-point lead in the decider and a championship point to go down 9-21 23-21 20-22 to world number 24 Weng in an edge-of-the-seat final.
Since India's ICC trophy victory in 2013, when the MS Dhoni-led side won the Champions Trophy in England, the possibility of Dravid and Rohit Sharma ending the title drought has captured the imagination.
The game was preceded by an elaborate cultural programme and opening ceremony with the Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and the Chief Minister of Assam in attendance