Gavin Evans has been forced to retire from the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in Manama, Bahrain after his shoulder injury flared up.

It’s a disappointing end of the tournament for Evans, who is still working his way back to full fitness.

However, his team-mates Liam Pitchford and Sean Cullen can both enjoy the first round of the boys’ singles draw as well as their partnership in the boys’ doubles.

Pitchford was given a bye to the first round and he will face Cheon Min Hyuck from Korea, while Cullen beat Mathieu Theriault (CAN) to get his place in round one against the tough Simon Gauzy from France.

The English pair will then join forces this evening to play Andrei Di Salvo and Nicolas Galvano from Argentina in the first round of the boys’ doubles.

Pitchford will also continue his progress in the mixed doubles with German partner Petrissa Solja when they play the Italian pairing of Leonardo Mutti and Debora Vivarelli.

Fixtures:

Boys’ singles:

First round:

Liam Pitchford v Cheon Min Hyuck (KOR)

Sean Cullen v Simon Gauzy (FRA)

Mixed doubles:

Pitchford/P Solja (GER) v L Mutti/D Vivarelli (ITA)

Boys’ doubles:

Sean Cullen/Liam Pitchford v Andrei Di Salvo/Nicolas Galvano (ARG)

Results:

Boys’ singles:

Group 10:

C-S Lee (TPE) bt S Cullen 4-1 (4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8)

Sean Cullen bt Mathieu Theriault (CAN) 4-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8)

Group 22:

Gavin Evans retired due to injury

Mixed doubles:

L Pitchford/P Solja (GER) bt M Shouman/D Meshref 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-8)

S Cullen/T Gonderinger (LUX) bt F Cipin/M Jeger (HRV) 3-1 (12-14, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8)

G Evans/N Mittelham (GER) bt HT Chen/CL Hsu (TPE) 3-2 (11-5, 7-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8)

P Zheng/ Y Gu (CHN) bt S Cullen/T Gonderinger (LUX) 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-7)

H Desai/M Bhandarkar (IND) bt G Evans/N Mittelham (GER) 3-2 (11-6, 4-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-6)