Gurugram: Former state-level tennis player Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead by her father at their residence in Gurugram’s Sushant Lok on Thursday afternoon. Police said Deepak Yadav, 49, confessed to the killing and was arrested. A licensed .32 bore revolver used in the incident was also recovered.

Who was Radhika Yadav?

Born on 23 March 2000, Radhika Yadav had emerged as one of Haryana’s top tennis talents. She earned a career-best International Tennis Federation (ITF) doubles ranking of 113 as reported by Business Standard.

Within her home state, she was ranked fifth in women’s doubles and was widely regarded as a promising prospect in Indian tennis.

Beyond her achievements on the court, Radhika had begun grooming the next generation of players. She ran a tennis academy that offered structured coaching and mentorship to aspiring athletes.

What happened at the Gurugram home?

The incident occurred around 2 pm on Thursday, when Radhika was in the kitchen on the first floor of their double-storey home. Police said Deepak Yadav fired at least five rounds, three of which struck Radhika in the back, killing her instantly.

Her mother, who was on the ground floor, rushed upstairs after hearing the gunshots, which, she said, sounded like a pressure cooker blast. Police rushed Radhika to a hospital, where she was declared dead.

According to investigators, the tennis academy had become a source of tension between the two. Gurugram police spokesperson Sandeep Singh stated, “Radhika used to run a tennis academy, and her father was not happy with it. In a fight over the academy, the incident took place.”

Sources revealed that Deepak Yadav, a native of Wazirabad village, allegedly confessed to the police that he had been upset over taunts about living off his daughter’s earnings.

On the complaint of Radhika's uncle, an FIR was registered at Sector 56 Police Station, and Deepak Yadav was arrested.

(with inputs from PTI)