There could not have been a more appropriate place for the French to claim the bronze. The newly renovated setting in the heart of the capital city was sold out months ago and as the home fans poured in through the ornate doors, the atmosphere began to build.

The next generation of French wheelchair fencers such as Brianna Vide gave the host nation hope on the opening day in the women’s sabre. But it was not to be then like it was tonight.

Valet, Tokatlian and Lemoine stopped the Italian charge of Emanuele Lambertini, Michele Massa and Matteo Betti in the sixth relay. Tokatlian scored seven hits to give France a two point lead and the crowd, behind them all the way, even more belief.

Valet and Lemoine won both their bouts against Massa and Betti, respectively. It was then down to Tokatlian to bring the team, and bronze, home.

Tokatlian used the immense energy from the crowd to land the required five hits to reach the magic 45 and set the iconic nave of the Grand Palais alight.

It was France’s 12^th Paralympic medal in the men’s team foil, adding to their historic success in the event.

“We knew that if we stuck with the Italians, at some point the fans would make the difference,” Valet said.

“It was their leader ([Lambertini] who cracked against me. That’s not usual, because he’s beaten me all year long.

“Then with the fans, he cracked. I caught fire, then Ludo  [Lemoine] caught fire, Damien [Tokatlian] caught fire, we pushed their heads underwater and they couldn’t escape.

“We won on the piste, they won in the stands, and we all won together.”

In the gold medal match, China were competing in their fifth consecutive final whilst Great Britain once again hoped to be the ones to break the Chinese winning run in their second.

It was not to be for the British duo of new Paralympic-title holder from the category B Dimitri Coutya, Piers Gilliver and Oliver Lam-Watson as individual category A Paralympic champion Sun Gang, Saichun Zhong and individual category B silver medallist Yanke Feng turned up the heat.

China also secured their third women’s team foil Paralympic title in a row, leading throughout their match against Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Hungary except for one bout.

Respective gold and silver medallists from the women’s category A, Xufeng Zou and Haiyan Gu from the women’s individual category A, and Rong Xiao, the silver medallist from the category B, joined forces to take the gold.

“We feel excellent. We worked very well together. Team spirit is very important for us,” Zou said. “We prepared (a) very long (time) for this. All our effort was for this moment, to show to the world that the Chinese women’s fencing team is strong.”

Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Krajnyak, Amarilla Veres and Eva Hajmasi were pleased with their upgrade from three years ago. The silver is also Krajnyak’s 12^th medal from six Paralympic Games.

“We are searching for words. Right now we can’t put into words what we feel. It’s huge happiness, all the hard work has paid off right now,” Krajnyak said.

“We were really prepared for this team event and did everything we could to have this final this evening.”

“Our dream came true. We were going to fight for the gold, which was the final.”

Italy celebrated the eighth medal since Rome 1960, and their third consecutive Paralympic podium. Beatrice Vio Grandis, Loredana Trigilia, Andreaa Mogos and Rosanna Pasquino overcame Hong Kong, China, for bronze as the crowd favourites.

“It was long, tough and very strategic. The Hong Kong team decided before the match to change their strategy. We’ve fenced so many times together, and they always fence in the same order,” Vio Grandis said.

“Today at the last minute they decided to change it, in order to put us in a bad way. It was tough.

“They can think whatever they want, they can change whatever strategy they want – our team is so good.”

Yu Chui Yee, Nga Ting Tong, Pui Shan Fan and Yuen Ping Chung can still be pleased with their fourth-place finish, matching their performance from Tokyo 2020.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games continue on Friday (6 September) with the men’s and women’s epee category A and B.

Ninety-seven of the world’s best wheelchair fencers from 21 delegations – including the Refugee Paralympic Team – are competing at the iconic Grand Palais until 7 September in individual events in men’s and women’s epee, foil and sabre and team events in foil and epee.