Dh7m win won’t send him packing
abu dhabi — What would you do with a couple of million extra dirhams? One Indian expat in Abu Dhabi has now had time to think about it — and he plans to stay right where he is.
On Sunday, Sreeraj Krishnan Kopparembil, a 33-year-old shipping coordinator from Kerala, was declared the winner of a Dh7 million Abu Dhabi Big Ticket Draw. His plan? Pay off some debts, and continue living happily in the UAE.
“Why would I leave this country where we got lucky? I am a mature person who wants to stay grounded,” he said. “I don’t have any extraordinary plans for life as of now. I will let the excitement settle and think it through.”
Krishnan, who earns Dh6,000 monthly at his job, said that his “first priority is to repay housing loans in India”. Additionally, Krishnan noted he was still shocked that he won.
“I just went blank for a minute when I got the call from the Big Ticket. I still cannot believe it has happened,” he said. “I am now convinced my lucky number is 44698.”
abu dhabi — Indian expat Sreeraj Krishnan Kopparembil woke up as a millionaire on Monday. The 33year old shipping coordinator has won a whopping Dh7 million in the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket Draw announced on March 5.
“I just went blank for a minute when I got the call from the Big Ticket. I still cannot believe it has happened,” said an elated Krishnan from the south Indian state of Kerala. He has been working in the UAE for the last nine years.
I am a matured person who wants to stay grounded. I don’t have any extraordinary plans for life as of now. I will let the excitement settle and think it through.”
“I am now convinced my lucky number is 44698,” said Krishnan alluding to his ticket number.
Though a regular buyer of Big Ticket, Krishnan said he has never won anything before. “This time when I bought the ticket, I had decided it would be my last
Sreeraj Krishnan, winner
try. And as luck would have it, this is definitely my last buy,” said Kirshnan, who earns Dh6,000 in monthly salary.
So what would Krishnan do with all this money?
“My first priority is to pay off my housing loan back in India. That is what my wife also wants me to do,” said Krishnan, who is married to Ashwathi.
She works as an administrative assistant in a private firm.
The couple said they want to continue working in the UAE. “Why would I leave this country where we got lucky?
“I am a matured person who wants to stay grounded. I don’t have any extraordinary plans for life as of now.
“I will let the excitement settle and think it through,” said an elated Krishnan.