Abhishek Mishra in New Delhi
On Friday, at the World Para Athletics Championship in New Delhi, where India clinched 4 medals, an unprecedented incident made the headlines. At around 9 AM, stray dogs entered the JLN Stadium Complex’s warm-up area and bit Kenyan sprint coach Dennis Mwanzo and Japan’s coach Meiko Okumatsu, while they were supervising their athletes’ training.
Both coaches were immediately taken to the Medical Room, and they received on-spot first-aid treatment. And then they were transferred to Safdarjung Hospital for further treatment.
“We have been here in New Delhi for the Para Athletics Competition. In the morning, while warming up with Stacey Obonyo for the 200m, we had just finished and were working on block starts. I bent down to fix the clips for her, and suddenly I felt a grip on my leg.
“At first, I thought someone was holding me, but when I turned, I saw it was a black-and-white dog. I struck it to free myself. I’ve since been treated at the hospital, as we don’t know if the dog had been vaccinated. While there, I met a Chinese woman and two others who had also been bitten. They even have a clinic specifically for dog bites,” said the Kenyan coach Mwanzo, as quoted by pulsesport.co.ke
The story of stray dogs causing trouble at the JLN Stadium Complex is nothing new; even before the tournament, such kinds of cases were reported. Stray dogs ended up chasing a few athletes in the premises, and this raises serious questions of safety.
On Friday, looking at the situation, dog squads were called, and those dangerous stray dogs were taken to shelters through dog-catching vehicles. Still, a dog was seen coming out of the mixed zone in the evening just after the women’s Long Jump T64 event.
Following the dog-bite incident, the organising committee of the Indian Oil World Para Athletics Championship shared a press release. “On 21 August 2025, a formal request was made to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to safeguard the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium by removing stray dogs from the venue. Acting swiftly, the MCD cleared the premises well before the start of the Championships, and dog-catching vehicles have been stationed at the stadium from Day 1 to ensure constant vigilance and immediate response.
“Despite these precautionary measures, the challenge of individuals repeatedly feeding stray dogs near the venue has allowed animals to re-enter the premises. Unfortunately, this led to two isolated incidents at the warm-up track on 3 October 2025, with coaches of Japan and Kenya getting bit,” says the statement.
The statement also adds, “Coach Miss Meiko Okumatsu (NPC Japan) and Coach Mr. Dennis Maragia (NPC Kenya) sustained bites while supervising training. Both were immediately attended to and provided on-the-spot medical attention at the Athlete Medical Room. They were then taken to Safdarjung Hospital, where they received appropriate treatment, after which they were taken to their respective hotels.
“Following these incidents, the MCD has reinforced its deployment with two dedicated dog-catching teams permanently stationed inside the stadium premises, supported by vehicles for rapid removal and transfer of strays to shelter homes. All captured animals are being relocated in line with strict animal welfare norms, ensuring both safety and humane treatment.”
The successful hosting of the World Para Athletics Championship 2025 will definitely position India as a strong contender to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the Olympics in 2036. To achieve this goal, it is very crucial to address and resolve minor issues as early as possible.
