According to Indian media, the suspect shot her three times on Thursday morning. She was taken to a nearby hospital by family members but did not survive.
Police arrested the athlete’s father, Deepak Yadav, 49, and seized his licensed firearm. He later confessed to the killing, according to Indian daily Hindustan Times.
The father was reportedly financially dependent on his daughter and told police he was troubled by taunts from people in their native village of Wazirabad.
“People used to say I live off my daughter’s earnings,” he told the police, adding that he had asked her to close the tennis academy she owned, but she refused.
According to the International Tennis Federation, Yadav has not played in a ranked match since March 2024.
The India Today magazine reported she was aspiring to become a social media influencer after suffering an injury two years ago.
