Tennis star Radhika Yadav was shot and killed by her father inside their upscale home near Delhi. The tragedy unfolded after rising tensions in the family and pressure from outsiders who mocked him for living off her success.
Radhika Yadav, just 25 years old, had made a name for herself in Indian tennis. She represented Haryana in national-level tournaments and had recently launched her own tennis academy to inspire young athletes. Friends and family described her as passionate, hardworking, and determined to make a difference.
But that dream came to a heartbreaking end one morning in Gurugram.
The incident happened just after 10:30 a.m. at their duplex home in Sushant Lok Sector 57, one of the wealthiest areas in Gurugram. Radhika Yadav was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when her father, 49-year-old Deepak Yadav, fired five shots at her from his legally owned revolver.
Three bullets struck her in the back, according to police reports.
Only Radhika, her father, and her mother were in the house at the time. Her younger brother was not home. Her uncle, Kuldeep, who lives on the lower floor of the same house, heard the gunshots and rushed upstairs. He found Radhika on the floor, bleeding heavily.
Kuldeep and a cousin carried Radhika Yadav to their car and rushed her to Asia Maringo Hospital. Sadly, doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. The revolver used in the shooting was later found in the drawing room of the house.
Authorities collected the weapon, along with live ammunition and other forensic evidence from the scene.
Deepak Yadav later admitted to the shooting. According to the police, he was under intense emotional pressure in the weeks leading up to the incident. People in the village of Wazirabad had been mocking him for depending on his daughter’s income and fame.
He told investigators that he felt ashamed and defeated.
Family members said that he had repeatedly asked Radhika Yadav to shut down her tennis academy. But she refused. She believed in what she had built and didn’t want to give up on her vision.
Just before the shooting, a serious argument reportedly broke out between Radhika and her father. The dispute centered again on the tennis academy. Radhika’s refusal to close it seemed to have triggered her father’s anger.
In a moment of rage, he pulled out his revolver and fired.
Her mother, Manju, was at home during the shooting but stayed in her room. She later told police that she was feeling unwell and hasn’t yet given a full statement about what she witnessed.
The entire neighborhood and nation have been left shocked by the tragedy. Radhika was not just a sports talent but also a symbol of empowerment for young women in India.
Radhika Yadav had worked hard to reach where she was, overcoming gender-based barriers and community expectations.
Her uncle, who filed the official complaint leading to Mr. Yadav’s arrest, recalled the terrifying moment he found her. “I saw my niece Radhika lying in the kitchen,” he told authorities. “The revolver was left in the drawing room.”
Mr. Yadav has been arrested and charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder and illegal possession of a weapon. While he did legally own the revolver, the nature of its use in the killing will likely play a role in the legal proceedings.
He remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
Radhika’s friends and colleagues remember her as a warm, humble, and resilient person. She had faced criticism for choosing a career in sports, but remained focused on her goals.
Radhika Yadav was recently featured in a promotional video that gained attention on social media. Her dedication to training young players had just begun to take shape through her tennis academy.
Unfortunately, Radhika Yadav’s success may have become too much for her father to handle.
Sources say he struggled with how others viewed him, claiming people constantly ridiculed him for relying on her. That ridicule appears to have broken him emotionally.
This devastating case shines a light on the burden of societal expectations and how deep emotional stress can affect a person’s actions. While the exact details of the family’s conversations remain private, police say the repeated tension over the academy and public mocking played a key role in the tragedy.
The incident is also a reminder that success and fame can sometimes create hidden cracks within families, especially when roles begin to reverse and a younger member becomes the provider.
Mr. Yadav will face trial later this year. Meanwhile, authorities continue collecting evidence and taking statements, including one expected from Radhika’s mother.
Supporters of Radhika are calling for justice and demanding that the memory of her hard work and achievements not be forgotten.
Radhika Yadav’s death is not just a loss for Indian tennis. It is a deeply personal tragedy that touches on gender roles, family pride, and mental health.
She had broken barriers as a young woman in sports. She stood firm in the face of pressure. And she believed in her dreams.
In the end, the very success that made her a rising star became the point of conflict inside her own home.
As the investigation moves forward, people across India mourn the loss of a daughter, a coach, and a fighter.
