A 25-year-old tennis player was fatally shot by her father at their home in Gurugram, India, on July 10, after an argument about her coaching job and financial independence.
Radhika Yadav was preparing food in the kitchen on the first floor of their Sector 57 house around 10:30 a.m. when her father, Deepak Yadav, 49, allegedly fired several shots at her using his licensed .32 bore revolver. According to police, Deepak discharged five rounds at his daughter, hitting her in the back three to four times.
Hearing the gunfire, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak’s younger brother who lived downstairs, ran upstairs and discovered Radhika lying in blood in the kitchen. With help from neighbors, Radhika was rushed to Asia Maringo Hospital in Sector 56, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Kuldeep filed a report with police at Gurugram Sector 56 police station, resulting in Deepak’s arrest for murder. Police recovered the firearm at the home. At the time of the incident, Radhika’s mother, Manju Yadav, was resting in her room with a fever and chose not to provide a written statement to the authorities.
Investigators believe the shooting resulted from ongoing conflict over Radhika’s job at a nearby tennis academy. Police learned that Deepak had become increasingly frustrated by neighbors mocking him for relying on his daughter’s earnings. Inspector Vinod Kumar of Sector 56 police told The Indian Express that Deepak “had been distressed for some time by locals who taunted him about his daughter being the breadwinner.”
Kumar said Deepak was troubled by comments from others who claimed the family’s livelihood depended on Radhika’s salary and criticized him for relying on her income. Deepak had repeatedly urged his daughter to quit her job at the academy, but she refused.
According to an NDTV report, Deepak confessed during police questioning, admitting he killed his daughter because he could not withstand the community’s ridicule and the pressure of being financially dependent on her.
Radhika had built her career as a professional tennis player on the International Tennis Federation circuit, playing 36 singles and seven doubles matches. Her last professional appearance was in March 2024, after which she turned to coaching because an injury forced her to stop competing. She had played in tournaments in Indore and Malaysia as recently as February and March.
After ending her playing career, Radhika went on to coach both male and female athletes. Though the family seemed financially stable—Deepak owned rental homes and previously ran Deep Accessories, a car parts business—the stigma attached to his daughter being the main earner caused significant strife.
Friends and neighbors reacted with disbelief to the tragedy, describing Radhika as diligent, considerate, and respectful. Mona Sharma, whose daughter took lessons from Radhika, said Deepak had once been supportive, accompanying his daughter to practice and tournaments.
Radhika’s close friend, Himaanshika Singh Rajput, posted on social media after the tragedy, alleging that Radhika’s family was controlling and struggled to accept her independence. Rajput claimed Radhika constantly faced judgment for wearing shorts, speaking with boys, and asserting control over her life, saying her parents maintained a traditional outlook that made her environment stifling.
This case has sparked wider discussion about women’s financial independence and family relationships in India.
Suman Kapur, CEO of the Haryana Tennis Association, recalled meeting Radhika at the National Games in Goa in 2023 and described her as dedicated, disciplined, and respectful of her sport. Friends said Radhika hoped to continue her education in Australia, showing her determination to advance her career.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full details behind the deadly family conflict. Deepak Yadav remains in police custody on murder charges.