The tragic death of Radhika Yadav: A rising star lost
A rising star lost: The tragic death of Radhika YadavOn July 10, 2025, the Indian sports fraternity was plunged into a state of immense grief. 25-year-old tennis player Radhika Yadav from Gurgaon was shot dead by her father Deepak Yadav at her home in Sushant Lok, Gurugram.
1. The player behind the scenes
Born on March 23, 2000, Radhika has established herself as India’s rising tennis star.
By November 2024, she reached her career-high ITF doubles ranking of 113 and was ranked fifth in Haryana’s women’s doubles rankings.
She achieved a career-high ITF doubles ranking of 75 (January 2018) and women’s doubles ranking of 53 (April 2021), and spent an astonishing 112 weeks in the top 100 in doubles. She was a former AITA Under-18 national player.
Apart from her achievements, Radhika also ran her own tennis academy, training aspiring players and promoting women empowerment through athletics.
2. A horrifying moment for Radhika Yadav
On that fateful Thursday morning, Radhika was in the kitchen when Deepak fired five shots from his licensed .32 calibre revolver. She was hit by three bullets, two of them in the back, killing her instantly.
Her mother, sitting down the hall, initially thought the gunshot was a pressure cooker exploding but later realised the tragedy she was facing.
3. The root cause Radhika Yadav
The police investigation revealed a disturbing picture:
According to reports, Deepak felt socially embarrassed for “living off his daughter’s earnings” and was jealous of Radhika’s independence, especially her academy.
Her growing presence on social media, especially on Instagram Reels, was also angering him as he believed it had damaged the family’s reputation.
Mounting stress was blamed for her fatal act.
4. A shaken society
As well as being a personal tragedy, this is a horrifying illustration of generational conflicts, honour-based violence and deeply ingrained patriarchal mindset in contemporary India. A talented young woman, who was seeking independence and making a difference in her community, was silenced for following her own path—a clear indication of how urgently society needs reform.
Indian citizens, sports stars and dignitaries have expressed their grief and solidarity. Many are urging for deeper discussions on these topics:
- Mental health and family dynamics
- Empowerment and protection of young women
- Providing safe spaces for female athletes and business owners
In memory of Radhika Yadav, she is honoured for her academy, mentorship and fierce independence as well as for influencing lives off the court. Her legacy is one of optimism for change. Now, it is our collective responsibility as society, media and institutions to preserve his memory by resisting the prejudices and acts of violence he so tragically experienced.
I hope his story will inspire introspection, consciousness and purposeful action.
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