In a tragic turn of events that has shocked the nation, 25-year-old national-level tennis player Radhika Yadav was shot dead allegedly by her own father. Now, three days after the incident, Radhika’s best friend and fellow athlete, Himaanshika Singh Rajput, has come forward with explosive revelations, accusing the father of years of emotional and psychological abuse.
“He Made Her Life Miserable”
In an emotional Instagram post, Himaanshika shared two videos — one a montage of Radhika’s smiling photos and training clips, and the other a heartfelt message exposing the disturbing reality of her friend’s life behind closed doors.
“My best friend Radhika was murdered by her own father. He shot her five times. Four bullets hit her. He made her life miserable for years with his controlling, constant criticism,” Himaanshika said in the video.
She added that Radhika’s father acted on the advice of people jealous of her success, and that the tennis star was constantly policed for being independent and modern.
“They Shamed Her for Being Herself”
According to Himaanshika, Radhika’s parents were extremely conservative and shamed her for wearing shorts or speaking to boys. “They couldn't stand to see her independent,” she said. “She was made to feel guilty for living life on her own terms.”
Despite her achievements in tennis and the establishment of her own academy, Radhika faced constant restrictions. “Even on video calls, she had to turn the camera to show who she was talking to — often me — to avoid suspicion,” Himaanshika revealed.
Strict Rules Even 50 Meters Away
Describing her friend’s isolation, she added, “Even if her academy was just 50 meters from home, she wasn’t allowed to be late. The pressure was intense. She loved creating content, making videos — but her parents disapproved, so she stopped.”
The two had been friends since 2012, bonding over tennis. “She was reserved, not because she wanted to be, but because she had to be. I never saw her talk to anyone outside family.”
“Stop Spreading Communal Hate”
Himaanshika also addressed rumors circulating on social media suggesting a communal motive, denying them outright.
“People are calling this love jihad — but where is the proof? She barely spoke to anyone. She was isolated. Please stop using her death to spread hate.”
According to Gurugram Police, Deepak Yadav fired five bullets at his daughter, three of which struck her in the back and one in the shoulder. She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Her last rites were conducted in her native village, Wazirabad, on Friday. A city court remanded Deepak Yadav to 14-day judicial custody on Saturday. During questioning, he told police he was “humiliated” by rumours that he was living off Radhika’s income.
