New Delhi: A troubling incident occurred at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the 12th World Para Athletics Championships, where two international coaches were bitten by stray dogs. This event has reignited discussions surrounding a controversial Supreme Court ruling. On the morning of October 3, Kenya's sprint coach Dennis Mwanzo and Japan's assistant coach Mieko Okumatsu were attacked while at the warm-up track. The championship, hosted by India for the first time, features 1,200 athletes from 104 nations and runs from September 26 to October 5.

In an interview, Mwanzo recounted, "Initially, I thought someone had grabbed me, but upon turning around, I saw a black-and-white dog. I had to strike it to escape. Thankfully, I received medical attention, but we are uncertain about the dog's vaccination status." Okumatsu, who is part of Japan's team for athletes with intellectual disabilities, also experienced a bite during training. She stated, "I was attacked in the morning, but the medical team quickly disinfected my wound."

Kenya's team doctor, Michael Okaro, noted that the incident took place around 9:30 AM while Mwanzo was setting up starting blocks for sprinter Stacey Obonyo's 200-meter training. "Dennis was bitten on his right calf and was immediately taken to Safdarjung Hospital for rabies vaccination. Such incidents raise significant concerns for an event of this magnitude," he expressed.

Data from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) indicates that Delhi reported over 25,000 dog bite cases in 2024, a rise from 17,847 in 2023, with nearly 3,200 cases recorded in January alone. The stray dog population in Delhi is estimated to be around 800,000. The Organising Committee for the IndianOil World Para Athletics Championships 2025 attributed the incident to individuals feeding stray dogs near the venue, which allowed them to return despite preventive measures. The committee stated that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had cleared the stadium of strays before the tournament and had dog-catching vehicles on standby.

The MCD has since increased security by deploying two permanent dog-catching teams within the stadium and standby vehicles for the immediate removal of strays. However, stray dogs were still spotted later in the day, with one being chased away by guards from the mixed zone, where athletes interact with the media. This incident occurs amid ongoing Supreme Court directives regarding Delhi's stray dog population. In August, the court ordered that all strays be relocated to shelters and not returned to the streets, but later modified this ruling after protests, allowing dogs to return to their original areas post-sterilization, vaccination, and deworming under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.