Stray dogs bite Kenyan, Japanese coaches at World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi

New Delhi: In a setback for the organisers of the World Para Athletics Championships, two international coaches, from Kenya and Japan, were bitten by stray dogs in separate incidents at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday. Both were treated promptly and are now out of danger.

Kenyan coach Dennis Maragia was attacked around 10 am while speaking to an athlete near the call room, a waiting area close to the competition arena. Witnesses said a stray dog suddenly bit his leg, causing bleeding. Medical staff stationed at the venue attended to him immediately before he was taken to Safdarjung Hospital, where he was given injections and other treatment.

A few hours later, Japanese coach Meiko Okumatsu was also bitten while supervising training at the adjacent warm-up track. She, too, received on-site treatment before being shifted to the hospital. Both coaches were later discharged and returned to their hotels, according to organisers.

The Organising Committee issued a statement reaffirming its “unwavering commitment” to athlete and official safety but admitted that stray dogs had re-entered the premises despite earlier preventive steps. The statement cited repeated feeding of dogs near the stadium as a factor.

Officials said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had been requested in August to clear the stadium of stray dogs and dog-catching teams had been deployed from the start of the championships. Following Friday’s incidents, two dedicated dog-catching units have been permanently stationed inside the venue, along with support vehicles, for rapid response. All captured dogs are being relocated to shelters in compliance with animal welfare standards.