Kenya’s sprint coach Dennis Mwanzo was bitten by a dog on the warm-up track at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during practice at the ongoing World Para Athletics Championships. He reported experiencing “pain in his leg and a little headache” following the incident.
Coaches Meiko Okumatsu (Japan) and Dennis Maragia (Kenya) also sustained bites while supervising training. Both were immediately attended to and provided on-spot medical attention at the Athlete Medical Room. Subsequently, they were taken to Safdarjung Hospital, where they received appropriate treatment before being transported back to their respective hotels.
Speaking to ANI after the incident, Dennis Mwanzo described the moment he was bitten. “I was with my team’s athlete when I felt something touching my leg. I have pain in my leg and a little headache. I had been drinking water since morning because I thought it was dehydration, but the headache persisted. I was assisting my athlete during warm-up, and after clapping for her to go, I felt something on my leg. I thought it was my physiotherapist. When I turned, I saw a dog biting me.”
Dennis added, “When I first saw the dogs, I thought they were friendly, but I soon realized they were not. When I saw the Japanese coach later, I didn’t know what had happened; she told me she had been bitten by a dog too.”
In response to these incidents, the Organising Committee of the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a safe, healthy, and secure environment for athletes, officials, and spectators.
On August 21, the Organising Committee made a formal request 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 Championships began. Dog-catching vehicles were 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 allowed the animals to re-enter the premises. This unfortunately led to two isolated incidents on October 3, 2025, where coaches from Japan and Kenya were bitten at the warm-up track.
Following these incidents, the MCD has reinforced its deployment with two dedicated dog-catching teams permanently stationed inside the stadium premises. These teams are supported by vehicles for the rapid removal and transfer of stray dogs to shelter homes.
The Organising Committee emphasized that all captured animals are relocated in strict accordance with animal welfare standards, ensuring their safety and humane treatment. While fully respecting animal welfare norms, the safety, health, and well-being of participants remains non-negotiable.
Additionally, the stadium and surrounding areas have been fully sanitized in coordination with civic agencies. Strengthened preventive measures are now in place to ensure the uninterrupted and secure conduct of the Championships.
Two on-site teams, supported by stationed vehicles, continue round-the-clock operations to guarantee participant safety and the successful hosting of the World Para Athletics Championships 2025.
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