Tennis Star Shot Dead by Father After Taunts About Living Off Her Success

A former tennis player was allegedly shot dead by her father in India after he was mocked for “living off her success”.

Radhika Yadav, 25, who played at a national-level in India, was cooking breakfast in the kitchen of her mansion just outside Delhi on Wednesday when her father Deepak Yadav, 49, is said to have shot her. He let off five rounds, three of which penetrated her back, according to cops.

Her uncle and cousin rushed the 25-year-old athlete to hospital, but she couldn’t be saved and was pronounced dead on arrival. After being interrogated by police, Mr Yadav confessed to the heinous crime, saying he was suffering stress and depression after being taunted by neighbours over relying on his daughter’s money.

In the weeks leading up to the murder, the father had begged her to abandon plans for her new tennis academy, but she refused. On the day of the shooting, they reportedly had an argument before the dad went for his gun.

Kuldeep Yadav, his brother and Radhika’s uncle, claims to have run upstairs from his living quarters on the ground floor to find his niece lying in her own blood. The murder weapon, a revolver, had been left in the drawing room, he added.

He said: “I saw my niece Radhika Yadav lying in the kitchen and the revolver (used in the crime) was found in the drawing room. We carried her down and rushed her to Asia Maringo Hospital in our car. But she was already gone.”

ADVERTISEMENT

It was Kuldeep’s official complaint to police that led to the arrest of the father. While Radhika’s mother was present at the home, she hasn’t provided a statement and claims she was unwell in her room at the time of the shooting.

Forensic officers have gathered evidence from the scene, including the weapon and live cartridges. Mr Yadav has been charged with several crimes, including murder and firearm possession.

Considered a rising star, Radhika had represented the state of Haryana at national level tournaments. Her most recent endeavour was the opening of a tennis academy in the city.

As she drew praise from many in the sports community, her father grew resentful of her new-found fame and told cops he was being humiliated by taunting villagers from Wazirabad. There, they accused him of doing nothing himself and living off his daughter’s money and success.

Sources say the humiliation became intolerable and he snapped, shooting his daughter dead.