Italy beat Russia 33-32 on Sunday to win the 2008 women's epee team title five years after their last triumph in the World Cup.

Italy, ranked third during 2007-2008, was taken a comfortable lead by ninth-ranked Russia at the beginning, but leveled the score at 19-19 and closed the match at 33-32.

Romania crashed France 45-32 to win the third place in Nanjing, the capital city of the eastern Jiangsu Province.

"We are so happy to win back the World Cup five years after our last victory", said Patoni Daniele, coach of the Italian team.

"It is really a pity that we have no players qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games. Through this match we showed our strength, and we are looking forward to the London Olympics", he said.

In the individual event on Saturday, German Heidemann Britta beat Shutova Lubov of Russia 15-8.

In women's epee team event of the 2008 World Championships played last month in Beijing, France won gold medal while China and Germany took the silver and bronze respectively.

Ten gold medals will be contested by fencers at the upcoming Beijing Games. Of the 12 events, women's epee team and men's foil team will not be included in the 29th Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2008)