Two foreign coaches were bitten by stray dogs at jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) in New Delhi on Friday morning, disrupting the ongoing World Para Athletics Championships (WPAC) and raising safety concerns for athletes and officials.
Japanese fencing coach Meiko Okumatsu and Kenyan sprints coach Dennis Maragia Mwanzo were attacked in two separate incidents while supervising their athletes during warm-up sessions. 
A security guard stationed at one of the stadium&rsquo;s entrance gates was also bitten. 
All three attacks occurred within 30 minutes of each other, according to medical reports accessed exclusively by TOI.
&ldquo;This was the fifth dog bite incident at the JLN stadium during the championships. Earlier incidents involved security personnel, volunteers, and officials but were not publicised. This time, since foreign coaches were involved, the matter drew attention,&rdquo; said a source familiar with the situation.
According to the medical incidence report, Okumatsu was seated at the warm-up track at 9:18 am when a stray dog bit her left calf, creating lacerated wounds measuring 7x5x3 cm and 3x3x1 cm. 
She received immediate treatment following anti-rabies management guidelines, including cleaning, dressing, administration of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), Immunoglobulin injection, and tetanus, and was referred to the Safdarjung Hospital for further care. 
Both wounds required stitches due to the depth of the bite.
Mwanzo&rsquo;s attack occurred at 9:42 am while assisting para athlete Stacey Obonyo during her 200m warm-up. 
The Kenyan coach suffered a dog bite on the posterior aspect of his right calf, measuring 2x2x1 cm, and received similar anti-rabies treatment.
The WPAC organising committee issued a statement attributing the attacks to individuals feeding stray dogs near the stadium, despite precautionary measures. 
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials had cleared the premises before the championships, and dog-catching vehicles were stationed at the stadium from Day 1 to prevent incidents. 
However, repeated feeding by visitors allowed stray dogs to re-enter the venue, leading to the attacks. 
The stadium and surrounding areas have now been fully sanitised, and strengthened preventive measures are in place.
Social media reacted strongly to the attacks, with users asking, &ldquo;Protect strays at the cost of humans?&rdquo; Others expressed embarrassment for the host nation India and criticised lax management of stray dog populations.
Public health data shows India recorded 37.17 lakh dog bite cases in 2024, averaging over 10,000 bites per day.&nbsp;
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 305 rabies-related deaths in 2022, highlighting the ongoing risk posed by stray dogs.
These incidents have sparked renewed debate over stray dog management in Delhi, with concerns for the safety of international athletes and the general public taking centre stage during India&rsquo;s first hosting of the World Para Athletics Championships.

Two foreign coaches attacked by stray dogs at JLN Stadium during Para Athletics event

Stray Dogs Bite Japanese, Kenyan Coaches Delhi

Two foreign coaches attacked by stray dogs at JLN Stadium during Para Athletics event

October 4, 2025 | 16:37 IST