Wheelchair fencing action continued today at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

World champions France won the Paralympic men’s épée team title on a virtual coin toss with nothing to separate them and China after added time of the final at Carioca Arena 3 here.

With the scores tied at 41-41 after regulation time, the computer-generated coin toss determined that France would be the winners if no point was scored within the minute of additional time.

Neither France’s Romain Noble nor China’s Tian Jianquan were able to land a decisive blow in the additional minute, meaning the gold was awarded to the European nation.

A key member of France’s successful team was Robert Citerne, who at 55 years of age is the oldest wheelchair fencer at Rio 2016.

His latest title is his fourth in Paralympic épée team competition and comes 24 years after his first, won at Barcelona 1992.

"It might seem impossible because I'm 55-years-old now and I am at my eighth Games, but I feel very young in my head and I know I can go as far as I want," said Citerne.

"I won my first épée team gold in Barcelona 1992, then another two golds in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

"At Beijing 2008 and London 2012, the épée team event was unfortunately discontinued from the Paralympic programme but it has been brought back here in Rio 2016."

The bronze medal match saw Poland beat Greece 45-29.

Wheelchair fencing competition is being held at Carioca Arena 3 ©Getty Images
Wheelchair fencing competition is being held at Carioca Arena 3 ©Getty Images

In the women’s épée team final, China sealed their seventh wheelchair fencing gold of the Games with victory over Hong Kong.  

Individual épée category A winner Zou Xufeng was in excellent form as China triumphed 45-35.

"In the beginning it was very tense and intense," she said.

"The score was very close and then halfway through it got a lot easier because our advantage grew more and more and the gap got wider."

There was still cause for celebration in defeat for Hong Kong’s Yu Chui Yee, whose appearance on the podium was her 11th at the Paralympic Games, meaning she breaks the record for the most medals of any female wheelchair fencer.

"I’ve broken the record, but the men’s record is at 15," Yu said.

"I've got to challenge it.

"Not this time, but maybe in 2020."

Hungary edged Poland 45-44 in the bronze medal match. 

Tomorrow sees the final day of wheelchair fencing in Carioca Arena 3 with both the men’s and women’s foil team competitions scheduled to take place.

"We (Hong Kong) are now looking forward to the foil competition," added Yu

"We will get definitely another medal and I’ll set a new record."