The Great Khali condemns Haryana tennis player’s killing: Matter of mentality

WWE Hall of Famer and BJP member Dalip Singh Rana, known as The Great Khali, voiced sorrow on Sunday regarding the death of state-level tennis player Radhika Yadav in Gurugram at the hands of her father.

Calling it a “matter of mentality”, Khali questioned how such incidents align with the country’s slogan of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”.

“This is an unfortunate incident that a man killed his own daughter. How will we work towards our motto of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ if we go on killing our daughters? We cannot become a vishwaguru till we support our daughters,” Khali said while speaking to news agency ANI.

“Even I have a daughter. Daughters are no less than sons, and it is all a matter of mentality, which some people still need to change. Everyone should support their daughters and motivate them to pursue sports,” he added.

The 25-year-old sportswoman, who had competed for Haryana on the state stage, was fatally shot on Thursday afternoon at her family’s house in Sushant Lok-II, Gurugram. Police report that her father, Deepak Yadav, shot at her with at least five bullets while she was preparing food in the kitchen on the first floor.

Three bullets hit Radhika in the back, killing her instantly.

Her mother, who was downstairs, hurried upstairs after hearing what she first believed was a pressure cooker explosion. The authorities subsequently confiscated a registered .32 caliber revolver, purportedly employed in the murder. Deepak Yadav, 49, was apprehended shortly after and has admitted to the killing, according to authorities. While police informants allege Deepak was upset about being mocked for relying financially on his daughter, the official explanation indicated that arguments regarding a tennis academy run by Radhika were at the heart of their dispute.

A WhatsApp conversation has emerged between Radhika and her trainer, Ajay Yadav. In it, she allegedly conveyed her desire to leave home at all costs and discussed plans to relocate overseas, suggesting a potential family conflict.

Authorities further clarified that Radhika neither operated her own academy nor ran it; instead, she trained young athletes by renting tennis courts in different places—an activity her father supposedly opposed.

In the meantime, individuals associated with the family assert that Deepak Yadav was displeased with his daughter’s increasing presence on social media and her attempts to establish herself as an influencer. A recent music video she appeared in with an independent artist is also being mentioned as a potential catalyst for the deadly clash.