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Choosewhere $r_p$ is a normal radius at $p$. Take piecewise smooth curves $c_j$ from $p$ to $q$ such that $L_g(c_j)\to d_g(p,q)$. Each $c_j$ first leaves the normal ball $B_g(p,\delta )$ at a point $p_j$. The Gauss lemma gives $d_g(p,p_j)=\delta$. The geodesic sphereis compact, because the tangent-space sphere is compact and ${\exp }_p$ is defined on it. After taking a convergent subsequence, let $p_j\to p_0$.

The part of $c_j$ after $p_j$ has length at least $d_g(p_j,q)$, so continuity of the Riemannian distance givesThe triangle inequality gives the reverse inequality. Therefore

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.