‘If we go on killing our daughters...’: WWE star The Great Khali condemns tennis player Radhika Yadav’s death

New Delhi: The tragic murder of 25-year-old tennis player Radhika Yadav by her own father has sparked nationwide outrage, and now, wrestling icon and BJP leader The Great Khali has lent his voice to the growing calls for justice and gender sensitivity.

Radhika, a rising athlete, was shot multiple times by her father Deepak Yadav on July 11 in Gurugram, allegedly following a dispute related to her tennis academy in Sector 57. Her body was cremated the same day after a post-mortem confirmed several gunshot wounds.

Khali’s emotional reaction at fitness event

Speaking at the ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ event, former WWE superstar Dalip Singh Rana, popularly known as The Great Khali, expressed strong emotions over the incident, highlighting the contradiction it presents in the context of India’s 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign.

"This is an unfortunate incident that a man killed his own daughter. How will we work towards our motto of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' if we go on killing our daughters?" Khali said, visibly disturbed.

The wrestling icon used the platform not only to promote physical fitness but also to call for a change in societal attitudes towards daughters.

"We cannot become a vishwaguru till we support our daughters. I have a daughter. Daughters are no less than sons, and it is all a matter of mentality, which some people still need to change... Everyone should support their daughters and motivate them to pursue sports," he said.

Earlier, Radhika’s close friend Himaanshika Singh Rajput described the murder as a premeditated act driven by patriarchal control and fragile male ego, rejecting rumours of any communal or interfaith motives. She revealed how Radhika’s independence was stifled by her family, and how her father’s growing resentment culminated in the tragic killing.

While the investigation is ongoing, police officials have also looked into a music video in which Radhika had appeared. According to sources, her father had allegedly asked her to remove the video from her social media. However, authorities have not found any link between the video and the murder at this stage.

(With inputs from ANI)