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Radhika Yadav’s best friend has accused the young athlete’s family of exerting relentless control over her life, saying she was made to feel ashamed of her clothes, her friends, and her dreams.

 

Days after the national-level tennis player was shot dead by her father, Himanshika Singh, who had known her since 2012, released a video revealing that Radhika was under immense domestic pressure and was frequently criticised for her lifestyle.

 

“She felt suffocated at home. Her family had issues with almost everything,” Himanshika said. “They shamed her for wearing shorts, for talking to boys, for living life on her own terms.”

 

In her account, Himanshika painted a portrait of a gifted young woman slowly being stifled by a rigid household. “When she used to be on a video call with me, she had to show her parents who she was talking to. Even though the tennis academy was just 15 minutes away, she was given strict deadlines for when she had to return,” she said.

 

Radhika’s close friend, Himaanshika Singh, described a deeply controlling and restrictive environment at home:
•Radhika was shamed for wearing shorts, talking to boys, and asserting her independence .
•She even had to show her parents her phone during video calls, and was… pic.twitter.com/bKD5jtJ4MP

— Fahim Akhtar فہیم اختر (@speaktostar) July 13, 2025

 

Radhika, she claimed, had little space to breathe, let alone grow. “There were a lot of restrictions at home. She didn’t interact much with anyone. She was mostly surrounded by her parents. She had to be answerable for everything,” Himanshika said.

Also read: Father spent ₹2.5-cr on Radhika Yadav's training

In a written statement released separately, she alleged that Radhika’s father made her life “miserable” with his “controlling behaviour and constant criticism”.

 

“She was a kind soul, sweet and innocent,” Himanshika recalled. “Gradually, all her hobbies, like shooting videos, disappeared. She faced extreme pressure at home.”

 

She added that Radhika was discouraged from pursuing her interests due to what she described as the family’s preoccupation with “what people would say”. “There was societal pressure on the family. The parents were always worried. They were very orthodox,” she said.

 

The testimony from Radhika’s friend stands in sharp contrast to the image of a disciplined athlete, revealing instead a young woman battling to hold on to her identity under intense scrutiny at home.

 

Radhika’s killing has shocked many and reignited debate on the cost of conservative family values that seek to regulate the lives of young women.

 

Authorities have not issued a statement yet in response to Himanshika’s allegations.