National Tennis Player Radhika Yadav Shot Three Times by Father Over Music Video Dispute  

25-year-old athlete and coach shot dead in Gurugram kitchen; father confesses, blames taunts over daughter’s earnings, Instagram reels, and music video

A horrifying case of domestic violence and patriarchal resentment has shocked the nation as 25-year-old national-level tennis player Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their Gurugram home on Thursday morning. The incident, which unfolded around 10:30 am, has stunned the sports community and sparked discussions about financial independence, societal pressure, and gender-based control.

According to police reports, Deepak Yadav, a former bank employee, confessed to firing five rounds, of which three bullets struck his daughter in the back while she was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Her uncle, Kuldeep Yadav, who lives on the ground floor of the same building in Sector 57, heard the gunshots and found Radhika lying in a pool of blood. A revolver was recovered from the drawing room nearby.

Radhika was rushed to Asia Maringo Hospital in Sector 56, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Rooted in Control and Shame

The motive, as per the father’s chilling confession, stems from months of conflict over Radhika’s independence—particularly her financial self-sufficiency, social media presence, and appearance in a music video. Deepak Yadav reportedly felt humiliated by taunts from villagers in Wazirabad, his native place, who accused him of living off his daughter’s income.

“They used to taunt me, saying I lived off my daughter’s earnings,” Deepak told police. “People questioned her character too. I asked her to shut down her tennis academy, but she refused.”

This resentment, police believe, was exacerbated by Radhika’s appearance in the music video “Karwaan”, released a year ago by independent artist INAAM. The video, produced under the LLF Records label by Zeeshan Ahmad, features Radhika in prominent scenes and was reportedly cited as one of the triggers for the fatal altercation.

A Promising Career Cut Short

Radhika Yadav, a graduate of Scottish High International School, had passed her Class 12 exams in 2018 and climbed steadily through the ranks in Indian tennis. She held the 113th rank in International Tennis Federation (ITF) doubles and had also broken into the top 200 worldwide. A recent shoulder injury had temporarily paused her playing career, but she pivoted to coaching through her self-established academy in Sector 57.

“She didn’t give up on tennis. She turned her energy to mentoring young athletes,” said a close associate. “That was her spirit, resilient, passionate, and fearless.”

Ongoing Investigation

Deepak Yadav is in police custody, and a case of murder has been filed. Authorities are also examining societal and psychological factors that may have contributed to his actions. The police are reviewing surveillance footage and phone records and have seized the licensed .32 bore revolver used in the crime.

Radhika’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and outrage online, with many calling for deeper societal introspection into misogyny, honour-based violence, and parental coercion masked as protection.