Radhika Yadav trained players at rented courts, not her own academy, clarifies police

Radhika was fatally shot at close range by her father, 49-year-old Deepak Yadav, inside their home in Sector 57’s Sushant Lok on Thursday morning.

Radhika Yadav, the 25-year-old former state-level tennis player allegedly shot dead by her father, did not operate a formal tennis academy as initially reported, Gurugram Police clarified on Saturday.

She, instead, trained aspiring players by renting courts at various locations, which is believed to have become the key source of tension within the family, leading to her murder.

Radhika was fatally shot at close range by her father, 49-year-old Deepak Yadav, inside their home in Sector 57’s Sushant Lok on Thursday morning.

According to the cops, the accused, who owns several rental properties and is financially well-off, had objected to his daughter conducting tennis training sessions, claiming that their family’s wealth made such work unnecessary.

"She used to train aspirants by booking courts at different locations. This angered her father, who had repeatedly asked her to stop. The dispute escalated, eventually leading to the murder," an investigating officer has stated.

Contrary to initial assumptions, officers now believe Deepak’s motive was rooted not in financial dependence but in the perceived loss of social respect.

Deepak had reportedly been disturbed by taunts from neighbours suggesting he lived off his daughter’s earnings, officials further noted.

During Friday’s police remand, five bullets and a live cartridge were recovered from the Yadav residence. Deepak was also taken to his native village in Pataudi as part of the ongoing investigation.

He is likely to be produced in court again on Saturday.

The case has drawn nationwide attention, with speculations linking the murder to a 2023 music video Radhika had featured in with an independent artist.

Police, however, have dismissed any connection, stating that the video had no bearing on the motive. “The accused clearly said his objection was to her earning money through training, not the video,” said Inspector Vinod Kumar of Sector 56 police station.

As per sources within the family, Deepak had supported Radhika’s tennis journey from an early age. Tensions, however, had been escalating in recent months as she continued to defy his demands to stop coaching. Reportedly, the tennis player's mother was present in the house when the fatal shooting occurred.

Radhika sustained four gunshot wounds -- three to the back and one to the shoulder, according to the post-mortem report. Her last rites were conducted on Friday in Wazirabad, the family's ancestral village.

Gurugram Police PRO Sandeep Kumar stated that the accused used his licensed firearm in the crime. “Despite being repeatedly told to stop working, Radhika refused. This led to a heated argument and ultimately, the tragic shooting,” he said.