Saturday, March 29, 2025
Gurugram, 14 July 2025 – Just days before her tragic death, 25‑year‑old tennis player Radhika Yadav had confided in her coach and friend that she felt suffocated under her family’s strict control—and longed for a break from both her home and country.
WhatsApp chats from Oct–Dec 2024 reveal Radhika expressing her desire to get away:
“I need to go away for some time.”
“I want to live freely… there are too many restrictions here.”
The Times of India+14Hindustan Times+14The Times of India+14
She considered relocating temporarily to Dubai or Australia, telling her coach, “Australia is fine, Dubai too.” Hindustan Times+1www.ndtv.com+1
Her father, Deepak, reportedly dismissed the idea, citing financial concerns. The Times of India+7Wikipedia+7The Times of India+7
Radhika’s father, 49‑year‑old Deepak Yadav, had allegedly imposed heavy restrictions on her—monitoring her calls, controlling her movements, and even criticizing her tennis outfits. Her best friend, Himanshika Singh, said:
“She felt suffocated at home… fragile male ego couldn’t stand her freedom.” The Times of India+15www.ndtv.com+15The Times of India+15Indiatimes+2www.ndtv.com+2The Times of India+2
Deepak was upset that villagers mocked him for relying on Radhika’s income from coaching. He ordered her to stop training students, but she refused. Indiatimes+7mint+7The Economic Times+7
On 10 July 2025 at around 10:30 AM, while preparing breakfast in their Gurugram home, Radhika was shot by her father (using his licensed firearm). She was struck three to four times—three bullets in her back and one in the shoulder/waist—and died instantly. Her mother mistakenly thought the shots were a pressure-cooker explosion. The Economic Times+6Hindustan Times+6The Times of India+6
Deepak later confessed, saying he’d been tormented by village taunts for being dependent on his daughter’s earnings. He admitted planning the act over several days. ESPN.com+11www.ndtv.com+11Wikipedia+11
Radhika’s phone was seized and forwarded to Haryana’s IT department (DITECH) for data recovery. Authorities expect to recover deleted messages, social media activity, and contacts. The Economic Times+5www.ndtv.com+5The Times of India+5
Her Instagram account had been deleted shortly before the shooting, and investigators are examining her online presence for clues.
Deepak has been arrested and remanded: one day in police custody and then 14 days in judicial custody. Wikipedia+1The Times of India+1
This case has rocked the nation—not just because of its brutality, but due to deeper issues:
The influence of patriarchal control and societal expectations.
The clash between a young woman’s ambition and traditional family pressures.
The role of digital evidence in uncovering hidden truths.
Radhika wanted freedom. She craved independence and had even planned to pursue courses abroad. Tragically, her journey for liberation ended in violence.
