Tennis player shot dead by father after being mocked for ‘living off her success’

She died aged just 25

Radhika Yadav, aged 25, was discovered with significant gunshot wounds in the kitchen of her home this morning. 

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) player was considered to be a rising star in India having played 36 singles matches and 7 doubles matches under the body.

She had most recently began to work as an elite coach after setting up a tennis academy.

The academy is said to have been a subject of debate between Radhika and her father Deepak Yadav.

The 49-year-old was reportedly upset that his daughter continued to run the institution against his wishes. 

Police were alerted to the incident by staff at a nearby private hospital, where Radhika Yadav had been declared dead upon arrival. 

Alarm bells were immediately raised by the fact that the tennis player was brought to hospital by her uncle rather than her parents, who were nowhere to be seen. 

According to police, Radhika’s father’s Deepak later confessed to killing his daughter, proving those earlier suspicions correct.

It has been alleged that Radhika Yadav’s father was ashamed that many in the family’s home town of Gurugram, near Delhi in India, saw him as dependant upon his daughter. 

Station House Officer Inspector Vinod Kumar told The Indian Express, per ESPN: “He [her father Deepak] had been upset for a while as he was being taunted by locals over his daughter's income. 

“He was troubled by their remarks - they would keep saying the house is running on her money, and he is too dependent on that. 

“He had asked her [Radhika Yadav] several times earlier to stop working at the academy, but she refused. He could not take it anymore.” 

Deepak Yadav has been charged with murder.