Tragedy Strikes: National Tennis Star Shot Dead by Father
Deepak Yadav confessed during interrogation that he killed his daughter out of anger and shame. He said villagers taunted him for living off her earnings. The Gurugram court has remanded him to one-day police custody.
“I shot her from behind while she was cooking,” he told police, according to Times of India. Four bullets were removed during the postmortem, confirmed by Dr. Deepak Mathur of the medical team.
Neeraj Chopra Speaks Out
Neeraj Chopra, Olympic gold medallist and national icon, reacted strongly. Speaking to NDTV, he called for families to be pillars of support, not sources of fear or shame.
“We already have excellent examples of female athletes from Haryana. These daughters make us proud. They should be idolised, not punished,” said Chopra.
Outpouring of Grief from Sports Community
The news sent shockwaves through India’s sports fraternity. Tennis players Sowjanya Bavisetti and Sharmada Balu expressed their heartbreak on Instagram.
“This is heart-wrenching. I met her once—she had the prettiest smile. ‘Log kya kahenge’ killed her,” wrote Bavisetti.
Balu called it “disturbing and tragic beyond words”.
Was Social Pressure the Real Killer?
According to reports, Deepak Yadav was tormented by village gossip. He disliked his daughter’s fame and economic independence. This toxic pride and fear of social mockery proved fatal.
Investigators believe a recent Instagram reel and music video tied to Radhika’s coaching academy may have triggered the final argument.
Women Athletes in Haryana: A Shining Light
Haryana has produced global icons like Sakshi Malik, Geeta Phogat, and Neeraj Chopra. Women athletes from this region have consistently made India proud, battling patriarchy and societal norms.
Radhika Yadav was part of this rising legacy. She ran a tennis academy for underprivileged children and had recently qualified for an international training program in Europe.
National Reckoning: A Society That Fails Its Daughters
This tragedy isn’t just about a crime. It’s about deep-rooted misogyny, pride, and the toxic culture of “log kya kahenge”—what will people say?
Families often become prisoners of social approval. Radhika’s story shows the deadly consequence of that mindset. We must stop measuring dignity by outdated standards of masculinity and dependency.
What Must Change Now
- We need stronger community support for independent women.
- Families must celebrate, not suppress, their daughters’ success.
- Government campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao must address such real-life cases directly.
- Sports institutions should offer mental health and family counselling to young athletes.
Conclusion: Her Life Should Not Be Forgotten
Radhika Yadav’s murder is a stain on a society that still ties honor to outdated norms. She was more than a daughter—she was a dreamer, a coach, a national-level champion, and an inspiration to many girls.
India must ensure her story ignites reform, not just mourning.