Romania won their first medal of Rio 2016 after beating defending Olympic champions China in the women’s épée team event at Carioca Arena 3 ©Getty Images

Romania won their first medal of Rio 2016 after beating defending Olympic champions China in the women’s épée team final at Carioca Arena 3.

Having beaten Russia 45-31 in the semi-finals, the number two seeds claimed a 44-38 win over their top-ranked opponents in a reverse of last year's World Championship final in Moscow. 

Romania, who finished sixth in the event at London 2012, were in control throughout the match after winning the opening leg.

Their team comprised of Ana Maria Popescu, Simona Pop, Simona Gherman and substitute Loredana Dinu, while China were represented by Sun Yujie, Xu Anqi, Sun Yiwen and substitute Hao Jialu.

Competing at her fourth Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 silver medallist Popescu redeemed herself after her ninth place in the individual event with a powerful display of classy fencing in the last dramatic bout against Xu. 

"We [wrote] history today, and it's like, oh my God," said Popescu.

"It's an amazing day.

"We believed.

"We dreamed [about] this day for such a long time, and now we did it."

Romania proved too strong for the defending Olympic champions China ©Getty Images
Romania proved too strong for the defending Olympic champions China ©Getty Images

Victory for Romania secured the country’s second Olympic title in women's fencing after a gold medal for Laura Badea in the individual foil event at the Atlanta 1996 Games.

China’s silver saw them collect their 500th medal in Olympic history in any sport, becoming only the seventh National Olympic Committee to reach the milestone.

In the bronze medal match, Russia claimed a narrow 37-31 victory over Estonia, who were denied their first-ever Olympic podium in fencing.

Tatiana Logunova thus earned her third Olympic medal, equalling the most won by a female fencer representing Russia alongside Karina Aznavourian.

London 2012 silver medallists South Korea were beaten by Estonia in the quarter-finals, while the bronze medallists from four years ago, the United States, were eliminated by Romania in extra-time in the last eight.

Rio 2016 fencing action is due to continue tomorrow with the men’s team foil event.

World and Olympic champions Italy are the favourites as they look to defend their crown. 

Rio 2016 foil individual champion Daniele Garozzo will lead the Italian charge up against Alexander Massialas' world number two-ranked American foil team.