Father's Objection to Coaching Income Was Motive in Tennis Player's Murder, Say Police
Gurugram Police now state that the motive behind the murder of former state-level tennis player Radhika Yadav was her father's disapproval of her earning an income. The accused father, Deepak Yadav, was reportedly taunted for living off his daughter's earnings from coaching at various rented courts, despite being financially independent. Investigators have ruled out her social media presence or a music video as the cause, clarifying the main conflict was her refusal to stop coaching sessions.
Unpacked:
Radhika Yadav was a former state-level player who competed in 36 ITF singles and 7 doubles matches, last playing singles in March 2024. Recently, she had transitioned to coaching, training students by booking various courts in Gurugram rather than running a formal academy.
Deepak Yadav owned small properties and earned rental income, making him financially independent. However, he was reportedly taunted by locals for relying on his daughter's earnings from coaching, which made him feel humiliated and led to repeated demands that she stop working.
Police ruled out social media activity or a music video as causes. Although there was speculation regarding her online presence and participation in a music video, investigators confirmed these were unrelated to the motive, which centered solely on her coaching and income.
Radhika’s mother was at home and initially mistook the gunshots for a pressure cooker blast. Her uncle, living on the ground floor, heard a loud explosion, rushed upstairs, and found Radhika injured. She was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The father was arrested shortly after, and the murder weapon was recovered.