The tragic murder of 25-year-old Radhika Yadav, a state-level tennis player, allegedly at the hands of her father, Deepak Yadav, has sent shockwaves through the sports community and beyond. Details continue to emerge surrounding the circumstances that led to this devastating event at their Gurugram home.

Radhika was shot on Thursday morning around 10:30 am. According to reports, she was cooking when her father allegedly used his licensed .32 bore revolver to shoot her. Her uncle, Kuldeep, who lived on the ground floor, heard the gunshots and rushed upstairs to find Radhika in a pool of blood. She was rushed to a private hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The autopsy report indicated that Radhika was struck by four bullets.

Initial reports suggested that a disagreement over Radhika's tennis coaching was a central motive. While early reports indicated Radhika owned a tennis academy, police have since clarified that she instead trained aspiring players by booking tennis courts at different locations. According to police, Deepak repeatedly asked her to stop these training sessions, leading to conflict. Deepak reportedly confessed to the murder. He claimed he was bothered by taunts from people in his village, Wazirabad, who said he lived off his daughter's earnings and questioned her character.

However, authorities have stated that they are exploring all angles and have not definitively established a motive. Police have ruled out Radhika's social media activity, including a music video she appeared in last year, as a potential cause. Inam-ul-Haq, Radhika's co-actor in the music video, stated that he had no connection to the murder and hadn't been in contact with her since the video was filmed. He also refuted rumors of a romantic relationship with Radhika, clarifying that they had no personal connection. He added that Radhika had mentioned her father liked the song and that she had brought her mother to the video shoot.

The investigation is ongoing, and Deepak Yadav has been remanded to police custody for further questioning. Police recovered the murder weapon, five empty shells, and one live cartridge from the scene. The family performed Radhika’s last rites in their village, Wazirabad.

This tragedy has sparked a wider conversation about societal pressures, familial expectations, and the value placed on women's independence and success in India. The investigation continues to unfold, seeking to uncover the full truth behind this heartbreaking event.