LUCKNOW, June 25 -- The Olympic spirit and a message of global sporting unity rang out at the KD Singh 'Babu' Stadium here on Wednesday as the city marked International Olympic Day 2026 with an energetic programme organised by the Lucknow Olympic Association under the aegis of the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association. The day began with an inclusive Olympic Day Run that drew athletes, coaches, parents, students, sports officials and local enthusiasts. Runners carried the Olympic flag as they completed circuits of the stadium precincts, a symbolic act that, organisers said, underlined the values of participation and solidarity at the heart of the Olympic movement. "Events like Olympic Day not only increase youth interest in sports but also provide new direction and energy to the city's sports activities," Viraj Sagar Das, president of the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association, said on the occasion. General Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association, Anandeshwar Pandey, who presided over the ceremony, urged athletes to internalise Olympic values. "Olympic Day is not just an event, but a medium to spread the values of excellence, friendship and respect," he said, adding that sportsmanship should be a way of life for every athlete. Lucknow Olympic Association's chief Syed Rafat Zubair Rizvi said the occasion was aimed at recognising and encouraging emerging talent across disciplines. Fifteen athletes were presented with the 'Vijay Path Award' to acknowledge outstanding performances at national and international levels. Athletes honoured with the 'Vijay Path Award' included, Rup Kishore, Paramjit Singh, Manvi Kanojia, Anshika Verma, Suyash Awasthi, Shubham Singh, Priya Pandey, Nupur Pandey, Ujjwal Gupta, Manav Kashyap, Manoj Kashyap, Ishita, Supriya Yadav, Simran Pandey and Shalu Kumari. The boys quarterfinals in the AITA Talent Series on Wednesday delivered high-quality tennis and one notable upset. Fifth seed Asvik Srivastava dominated fourth seed Ritvik Asthana 6-2, 6-1, dictating play with crisp groundstrokes and strong court coverage. Top seed Hamdaan advanced with a solid 6-3, 6-4 win over sixth seed Vivaan Garg, using a reliable serve and steady baseline game to close out tight moments. Pranay Srivastava continued his commanding form, dismantling Aarav Verma 6-1, 6-0 in a clinical performance. The day's standout thriller saw unseeded Shivansh stun second seed Arnav Srivastava in a three-set nail-biter, 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-6, showing remarkable resilience and nerve in the match tiebreak. The girls' quarter-finals featured consistent favorites and an upset. Third seed Anya progressed with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Virika Agarwal, combining aggression with tactical variety. Sixth seed Siya Singh upset fourth seed Hiya Chauhan 6-4, 6-4, playing smart returns and keeping rallies on her terms. Second seed Raisa Singh cruised past Anaisha Singh 6-0, 6-2, demonstrating superior footwork and depth. Top seed Anvesha Singh confirmed her status with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over eighth seed Anya Chaudhary....