A 25-year-old tennis player was shot and killed by her father at their home in Gurugram, India, on July 10, 2025, following a dispute over her tennis coaching academy and financial independence.
Radhika Yadav was cooking in the kitchen of their three-story home in Sector 57’s Sushant Lok area around 10:30 a.m. when her father, Deepak Yadav, 49, shot her multiple times with his licensed revolver. The autopsy said she received four bullets to the chest. She died instantly from injuries to vital organs.
The shooting occurred after an argument about Yadav’s tennis academy, which she operated in their neighborhood. Deepak Yadav had repeatedly asked his daughter to shut down the coaching facility, but she refused. Station House Officer Inspector Vinod Kumar told The Indian Express that Deepak had been upset for a while as he was being taunted by locals over his daughter’s income and that “he could not take it anymore.”
Following the gunshots, Radhika’s uncle Kuldeep Yadav, who lived on the ground floor with his family, rushed upstairs and found her lying in a pool of blood. Neighbors assisted in taking her to a private hospital, but she was pronounced dead before arrival. Kuldeep subsequently filed a complaint at the Gurugram Sector 56 police station.
Deepak Yadav surrendered almost immediately after the shooting and confessed to the crime. According to NDTV, he told police he killed his daughter because he felt humiliated and that his self-esteem had been hurt. Police recovered the licensed weapon used in the shooting and arrested Deepak on murder charges.
The motive appears rooted in societal pressure and financial insecurity. Deepak had been subjected to taunts from villagers in their native Wazirabad, where locals would mock him for living off his daughter’s earnings from her tennis academy. Community members would reportedly say the house was running on her money and that he was too dependent on that income.
Police are also investigating whether Deepak was upset over a music video Radhika had appeared in. The video, titled “Karwaan,” was produced by Zeeshan Ahmad and released in 2024 under the LLF Records label, featuring Radhika alongside independent artist Inaam Ul Haq. Some reports suggest this may have caused additional tensions within the household, though the artist later stated that Radhika had told him her father liked the music video.
Radhika’s mother, Manju, was present in the home during the incident but told police she was unwell and did not witness the shooting. She declined to provide a statement to authorities. The family had been experiencing ongoing tension over Radhika’s independence and career choices.
A close friend of Radhika’s, Himanshika Singh Rajput, described the victim’s father as controlling and alleged that he had made her life miserable for years. Rajput claimed on social media that the family had an orthodox mindset and that Radhika faced constant scrutiny about her activities, clothing choices, and interactions with others. Even though her tennis academy was located just 50 meters from their home, Radhika reportedly had to return at specific times.
Radhika had been a promising athlete who played on the International Tennis Federation circuit. According to the ITF website, she competed in 36 singles matches and seven doubles matches during her professional career, with her final match taking place in March 2024 in Indore, India.
After suffering a shoulder injury that ended her competitive playing career, Radhika transitioned to coaching young players at her tennis academy. She was described by those who knew her as bright, kind, and full of dreams. A graduate of Scottish High International School, she had completed her Class 12 commerce exams in 2018 and had taken up tennis during her school years.
Suman Kapur, CEO of Haryana Tennis Association, remembered meeting Radhika during the National Games in Goa in 2023. He described her as disciplined and focused, noting that she took great care of her sports equipment and respected her game. While she did not win a medal at the tournament, he observed that she played well.
The incident has sparked discussions about patriarchal attitudes and the challenges faced by independent women in Indian society. After the shooting, Deepak reportedly called his brother and labeled the murder “kanya vadh,” meaning filicide. He has since suggested to the police that they build a strong case against him and has requested the death sentence.
Independent artist Inaam Ul Haq, who worked with Radhika on the music video, announced on social media that he would donate all earnings from the song to charitable causes in her memory. The singer expressed that he never wanted attention in this manner and emphasized that his work had always been conducted with honesty and respect.
The case has been filed under murder charges, and Deepak Yadav remains in police custody. The investigation continues as authorities examine all aspects of the family dynamics and potential contributing factors to this fatal domestic violence incident.
