JOHN Stubbs' Tokyo 2020 Paralympics medal hopes are over by the narrowest of margins.

Woolston's 56-year-old archer exited the men’s individual compound open event at the 1/16 elimination stage after a dramatic shoot-off defeat to Marian Marecak.

Stubbs – who was the ParalympicsGB flag bearer alongside Ellie Simmonds at the opening ceremony – fell to his Slovakian opponent after both archers scored 138 following 15 arrows each but Marecak’s decisive shot was 3mm closer to the bullseye.

Defeat means Stubbs is unable to add to his gold medal from Beijing 2008 and his silver medal from Rio 2016 and despite hitting six 10s and two Xs, the five he scored on the third arrow of the fourth end ultimately proved costly against the 14th seed.

Conditions were tricky, with temperatures around 31 degrees and light winds at Yumenoshima Final Field

Tom Duggan, performance director of Archery GB, said: “Obviously John will be disappointed not to be progressing to the next round. Conditions were challenging with both the heat and changes in wind."