New Delhi: Two Unfortunate Stray Dog Attacks on Foreign Coaches at the JLN Stadium’s warm-up track on Friday Morning disrupted the ongoing world athletics championships Safety Concerns for differently-left athletes and their staff at the event, which India is hosting for the first time. Japanese fencing coach meiko okumatsu and kenyan sprints coach dennis maaragia mwanzo was bitten by stray dogs while overseing their athletes’ Training prior to competion romounds. A Security Guard at one of the stadium’s entrance gates was also attacked. All Three Incidents Occurred Within 30 Minutes of Each Other.“3 dog bites in 30 minutes. Japan, kenya, security guard. Please ensure the dogs are taken out of the stadium. This is getting beyond alarming, “Read one of the messages in the WPAC’s Local Organising Committee’s (Loc) Whatsapp Group.Sources told toi that this was the fifth dog bit incident at the jln stadium during the championships. Previous Attacks Involved Security Guards, Volunteers, and Stadium Officials. “The matter was never highlighted. It was kept under wraps. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) -Run Medical Center at the JLN Premies for this Event was aweted Foreign Officials (Coaches) and their team members, the issue came out in public, “said a source.Toi exclusively accessed The ‘Medical Incidence Report’ Detailing Friday’s Incidents, Prepared by the medical team. “The incident involving meiko okumatsu, coach, npc japan, happened at 9:18 am on the jln’s warm-up track. Okumatsu was seated at the warm-up track, supervising the train Sustained a dog bit in the left Calf Posterior Aspect. The incident occurred in an unprovocated manner as reported by the witnesses present at the site. It’s a lacerated wound. The wounds (7x5x3 CM and 3x3x1 cm) were cleaneed and dressed in accordance with anti-rabies Management guidelines. Following consultation, okumatsu was referred to the anti-rubies clinic at the safdarjung hospital for vaccination, treatment and further management. She was given the anti-rubies vaccine (ArV), immunoglobulin injection and tetanus, ”the report stated. Stitches were applied to both her wounds due to their depth and the extent of flesh removed by the dog bites. In mwanzo’s case, the incident occurred at 9:42 AM While Assisting Para Athlete Stacey Obonyo during Her 200m Warm-up. “Maragia sustained a dog bite in the posterior aspect of right calf. The Wound Had Dimensions of 2x2x1 CM, and He was given treatment in accordance in accordance with anti-rabs,” The report added. The WPAC’s Organizing Committee Later Issued a Statement Attributing The Incidents to Individuals Feeding Stray Dogs Near the venue. “On Aug 21-2025, a formal request was made to the municipal corporation of delhi (MCD) to safeguard the jln stadium by removing stray dogs from the venue. Championships, and dog-boxing vehicles have been stained at the stadium from day 1 to ensure constant vigilance and immediative response. Despite these precautionary measures, the challenge of individuals reepeated Unfortunately, this LED to two islated incidents at the warm-up track with coaches of japan & kenya getting bit. The stadium and surrounding are been full sanitized in coordination with civil agencies, and strengthened preventant measures are now in place to ensure uninterrupted, secure Conduct of the Championships, “The Statement Added. Public health data released by the govt indicated that India Recorded 37.17 Lakh Dog Bite Cases in 2024, Averagging Over 10,000 Bits Each Day. The World Health Organization (WHO), Using Indian Govt and Other Domestic Sources, Reported 305 Rabies Deaths in 2022.
