Indian tennis player Radhika Yadav, 25, allegedly shot dead by her father

Indian tennis player Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their home in Gurugram last week.

The 25-year-old was a player on the ITF singles and doubles tours before later taking up coaching. Radhika had played 36 singles and seven doubles matches, but had not played since March last year.

In the aftermath of her death, Gurugram Police said they were told by a private hospital that a woman had been killed by injuries sustained from bullets.

Radhika worked at a family-owned tennis academy in Gurugram, which is believed to be the subject of the disagreement that led to the shooting.

Deepak was reportedly upset at taunts from neighbours that his family was operating on the income of his daughter’s work at the academy.

The father then reportedly asked Radhika to shut the academy, but she refused.

Deepak allegedly shot her three days later while she was working in the kitchen.

Police noted that Deepak’s income came from the rent of some properties he owned.

Deepak admitted his murder to police, according to a quote from NDTV. In it, he revealed he shot her three times from behind because of her refusal to shut down the academy.

In an Instagram post, Radhika’s best friend, Himanshika Singh Rajput, alleged: “My best friend Radhika was murdered by her own father.

“They couldn’t stand to see her independent. They shamed her for wearing shorts, for talking to boys, for living life on her own terms.”

The video went on: “The taunts he used to get from his friends in the village were that she was putting on makeup, wearing short clothes, that her earnings were supporting her father.

“How many women need to die because of men’s fragile egos?

“She had become quite miserable in the 10 days before the murder, becoming resigned to her parents’ wishes,” Rajput claimed.

NDTV also quoted a friend of Radhika, who said: “She loved her father a lot. She would say, ‘My father has invested so much money into my tennis. I won’t let it go to waste’.

“She had a plan to move to Australia for higher studies.”