The 24 men's and women's championship division teams were drawn into four groups of six teams for the first stage of the biggest table tennis event which begins on February 28.

Defending champions China have been seeded number one in both the men's and women's events, with Germany being second in the men's and Japan in the women's. But these teams will find it difficult to post real challenges to the mighty Chinese teams in the tournament.

China's men's team will meet Austria, Chinese Taipei, Greece, the Czech Republic and DPR Korea in group stage, while their women team were drawn into group A with Chinese Taipei, Romania, Hungary, Spain and hosts Malaysia.

China and their potential challengers will see this year's world championships as a rehearsal of the Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro this summer, said Ryu Seung-Min, former Olympic champion from South Korea.