NEW DELHI: Two unfortunate wild dog attacks against foreign coaches on the JLN Stadium heating track on Friday morning interrupting the World Athletics Championship (WPAC) here, raising safety concerns for different athletes and their staff at the event, which India hosted for the first time. Japanese fence coach Meiko Okumatsu and Kenyan Sprints coach Dennis Maragia Mwanzo was bitten by a stray dog while watching their athlete training before the competition. A security guard at one of the stadium entrances was also attacked. The three of the incident occurred within 30 minutes of each other.“3 bites of dogs in 30 minutes, Japan, Kenya, security guards. Please make sure the dog is taken from the stadium. This is worrying, “Read one of the messages in the WPAC Local Organizing Committee (Loc) Group.Sources told Toi that this was a fifth dog bite incident at Jln Stadium during the tournament. Previous attacks involved security guards, volunteers, and stadium officials. “The matter was never highlighted, it was kept under the wrap.Toi exclusively accessed the ‘Medical Incident Report’ detailing Friday’s incident, provided by the medical team. “The incident involving Meiko Okumatsu, the coach, NPC Japan, occurred at 9:18 am on the heating track. The incident occurred by accident as reported by the witnesses present at the site. It is a lacerated wound. Wounds (7x5x3 cm and 3x3x1 cm) are cleaned and dressed in accordance with anti-rabies management guidelines. Following consultation, Okumatsu was referred to the Anti-Rabies Clinic at Safdarjung Hospital for further vaccination, treatment and management. He was given anti-rabies (ARV) vaccines, immunoglobulin and tetanus injections, “the report said. Stitches have been used for both wounds because of their depth and the extent of the meat produced by dog bites. In the case of Mwanzo, the incident occurred at 9:42 am while helping Stacey Obonyo athletes during 200m warming. “Maragia maintains dog bites in the posterior aspect of the right calf. The wound has a dimension of 2x2x1 cm, and he is given treatment according to the Anti-Rabies Management Guidelines,” the report added. The WPAC Organizing Committee then issued a statement linking incidents to individuals feeding wild dogs near the place. “On August 21-2025, a formal request was made to Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) to protect JLN stadium by removing wild dogs from the place. McD cleaned the premises well before the start of the tournament, and the dog’s attractive vehicle was housed at the stadium from day 1 to ensure continuous vigilance and immediate response. Despite these precautions, the challenge of the individual repeatedly feeding wild dogs near the place has allowed animals to re-enter the premises. Unfortunately, this led to two isolated incidents on the heating track with Japanese & Kenya coaches. The stadiums and surrounding areas have been fully cleaned in coordination with civic agencies, and strengthening preventive measures are now set to ensure uninterrupted and secure tournament behavior, “the statement said. Public health data issued by the government showed that India recorded 3.17 a dog bite in 2024, with an average of 10,000 bites daily. The World Health Organization (WHO), using the Indian government and other domestic sources, reported 305 rabies deaths in 2022.
