Why Did Tennis Star Radika Yadav’s Father Shoot her Dead?

Deepak Yadav fired five shots at his 25-year-old daughter Radhika Yadav while she was cooking, killing the national-level tennis player over societal humiliation and wounded pride.

Gurugram | July 11, 2025:
In a horrifying incident that has stunned the nation, 25-year-old national tennis player Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead by her own father, Deepak Yadav, in Gurugram’s Sushant Lok Phase 2 on Thursday morning. The trigger? Taunts from villagers suggesting he was living off his daughter’s income.

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Deepak, 49, reportedly fired five rounds from his licensed revolver, three of which struck Radhika from behind while she was cooking in the kitchen. The police confirmed that the incident occurred around 10:30 AM, and the victim was declared dead upon arrival at Asia Moringo Hospital.

“This situation kept bothering me as it hurt my dignity. Some even questioned my daughter’s character. I was troubled and stressed. I shot her from behind while she was cooking,” Deepak Yadav confessed during police interrogation.

Radhika, once a state-level player, had transitioned to coaching after a recent shoulder injury. She opened a tennis academy to train children and sustain her career in the sport. Her entrepreneurial independence, however, became a point of insecurity and perceived social shame for her father.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Radhika’s uncle, Kuldeep Yadav, the accused’s brother, he heard a loud gunshot and rushed upstairs to find Radhika lying in the kitchen and the revolver in the drawing room. Along with his son, he transported her to the hospital, where she was declared dead.

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Kuldeep Yadav told the police he was deeply shocked, stating that Radhika was an accomplished athlete who had won several trophies and brought pride to the family. He added that at the time of the shooting, only Radhika, her mother Manju, and her father were present in the house. Manju, however, refused to give a statement, claiming she was unwell and had gone to her room.

“I cannot understand why she was murdered. She was a proud daughter and a shining athlete,” Kuldeep said in the FIR.

The police have arrested Deepak Yadav and recovered the murder weapon. The case is being investigated under IPC sections related to murder and use of a licensed firearm in a domestic crime.

🕯️ National Outrage and Mourning

The incident has sparked a wave of grief and anger across India’s sporting community and on social media. Many have called it a tragic reminder of how toxic masculinity and social stigma continue to claim young women’s lives, even those as successful and independent as Radhika.

A silent candlelight vigil is expected to be held in Radhika’s memory this weekend by sports academies and women’s rights organizations in Delhi-NCR.

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🏷️ Tags:

Radhika Yadav murder, Gurugram crime, Domestic violence, Sportswoman shot dead, Tennis player killed, Father kills daughter, Sushant Lok shooting, Women’s safety India, Honour killing, Toxic masculinity

📲 #Hashtags:

#RadhikaYadav #JusticeForRadhika #GurugramNews #TennisIndia #WomensSafety #StopDomesticViolence #SportsTragedy #ToxicMasculinity #CrimeAgainstWomen #RIPRadhika