China underscored their status as red-hot favorites for World Team Table Tennis Championships glory with another display of utter dominance that ensured both their men's and women's teams marched triumphantly into the knockout stage in Chengdu on Tuesday night. 

The Chinese men put together a demolition job against Thailand to set up a round-of-16 showdown with India, who squeezed into knockouts as one of the higher-ranked best-placed third teams in the group stages. 

Lin Gaoyuan set the tone for a one-sided affair with a comfortable win over Phakpoom Sanguansin. Fan Zhendong followed the same pattern as the current world number one cruised past Sarayut Tangcharoen with relative ease. Liang Jingkun sealed the 3-0 clean sweep of Thailand after Pattaratorn Passara was ruthlessly dispatched.

However, Fan is wary of getting carried away after putting in an excellent performance.  

"There will be tougher matches later on and the intensity of the competition will get stronger," he observed. "I just hope I can adjust my condition better. At the same time, we will try our utmost to be prepared for all the difficult scenarios." 

Later in the day, the Chinese women, like their men's counterparts, ended the first phase unbeaten after outclassing Malaysia in straight sets.  

The defending champions opened with top-ranked Sun Yingsha against Karen Lyne and the 3-0 win straightaway put them on the front foot. World champion Wang Manyu then swatted aside Tee Ai Xin without losing a tie before Alice Chang was sent packing by Wang Yidi.

Next up for them will be a last-16 encounter with Hungary and Wang is brimming with confidence. "We will be fully prepared in the second stage," she said. "All the team members will stay united and play even better." 

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico's women's team made history by finishing second in their group behind China and securing a sensational spot in the knockout stage. 

"We are in the best 16 in the World Championships, I am so happy for that. I'm really happy that we made it for first time ever," beamed Puerto Rican talisman Daniely Rios. "This is history for my team. If my kids see this in the future, they will say 'she made it!'"