CWMBRAN archer Dave Phillips' hopes of a medal at the Rio Paralympics were ended tonight, but he went down fighting after pushing the top seed all the way in the last 16 of the men’s individual recurve.

Phillips, 50, went two sets down to Iran’s Ebrahim Ranjbarkivaj in the best-of-five encounter, losing the opener 25-18 and the next 27-24.

However, just as it looked as though his rival would stroll into the quarter-finals Phillips produced a stirring comeback, taking set three 27-23 and then levelling the match by taking the fourth 26-25.

Crucially, Phillips could only manage a score of six with his second arrow in the decider and the Iranian took the final set 25-23.

Phillips had made his way into the last 16 earlier in the day when he overcame home favourite Francisco Cordeiro by three sets to one.

The Welshman took the opener 24-20, lost the next 25-18, won the third 26-25 and then sealed victory by winning the fourth set 27-26.