Gurgaon tennis player Radhika Yadav, who dreamt of playing Wimbledon, shot dead by father in family dispute

Radhika Yadav, a 25-year-old former tennis player and coach, was shot dead on Thursday by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their residence in Sector 57, Gurgaon. The tragic incident has left the local sports community in shock. At the time of the shooting, her mother was present in the house. Her uncle, Kuldeep Yadav, who lives on the ground floor of the same building, rushed upstairs after hearing a loud bang. Upon reaching the first floor, he found Radhika lying in a pool of blood. Kuldeep and his son took her to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Later, he filed the First Information Report (FIR) with the police.

Early passion for tennis
Radhika began playing tennis in Class 3 and pursued the sport with determination. "She wanted to make it big in the game. It was her dream to play Wimbledon one day," said Dr Manoj DM, a physiotherapist who worked with her through her playing years. She attended Scottish High International School and chose not to pursue college in order to focus on her tennis career.

Despite her efforts, Radhika did not achieve consistent success at the international level. According to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), she held a career-high singles ranking of 1999.

Challenges and shift to coaching
After the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Radhika shifted her focus to coaching while continuing to play in national and ITF events. Dr Manoj noted that she was dealing with minor injuries and physical discomforts, which may have contributed to her stepping back from full-time competition. “She was a good player who was passionate about tennis and would keep pushing boundaries, despite injuries and physical pains,” he said. He also recalled her perseverance during a painful shoulder cyst eight years ago, which she recovered from to continue playing.

She coached at multiple local academies, including one near her home and another at the Magnolias, where she had started working about a month ago. A fellow coach remembered her as a naturally talented player and a well-liked trainer. “I saw her play since she was 9-10 years old. Years later, I connected with her at Magnolias. Everyone who took training under her liked her,” he said.

Creative interests and public reaction
In addition to her sporting career, Radhika appeared in a music video titled Karwaan in 2023 alongside television actor and singer Inaam Ul Haq. The video, released in June last year, has over 20,000 views on YouTube.

Inaam expressed his condolences in a social media post, writing that he was "shocked to know" about her death. He clarified that their professional interaction was limited to that single project and requested privacy, stating, “Leave me and my family alone.”

Investigation and allegations
According to those familiar with the family, a dispute related to a tennis academy near their residence may have triggered the confrontation that led to her death. Dr Manoj, who had known Radhika since she was 14, said he was aghast to learn that her father was the one who shot her. “I saw her grow from a teenager to a motivated young woman and it deeply saddens me to see such a brilliant life cut short like this,” he said.

(With inputs from TOI)