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Gurgaon Tennis Star Killed for Defying Patriarchal Norms
16 Oct
Summary
- 25-year-old tennis player Radhika Yadav shot dead by her father
- Felt like a "prisoner at home" due to strict parental control
- Parents objected to her makeup, skirts, and social media use
On July 10, 2025, 25-year-old tennis player Radhika Yadav was shot dead by her father Deepak in Gurgaon. According to the 400-page police charge sheet filed earlier this month, Radhika had confided in her friends about feeling like a "prisoner at home" due to the suffocating restrictions and strict surveillance imposed by her conservative parents.
The charge sheet details how Radhika's parents severely limited her personal freedoms. They prevented her from going to the tennis academy, accompanying her even at 6 AM, and objected to her wearing makeup and skirts while playing. Radhika was also forced to remove people from her Instagram account, leaving her with just 68 followers.
Radhika's friend and fellow tennis player Himanshika Yadav described how Radhika was "shamed for wearing shorts" despite being a professional athlete. Himanshika wrote that Radhika was "killed not for love or fame, but because fragile male ego couldn't stand her freedom."
The charge sheet does not mention any motive for the murder beyond Deepak's claim that he was disturbed by taunts from their village about Radhika's character. Autopsy reports show Radhika was shot four times from behind, leading to her death by shock and hemorrhage.
