Indian wins Dh10 million in Abu Dhabi raffle

Abu Dhabi - Nishitha was announced as the winner by Big Ticket Abu Dhabi for the The Big 10 Big Ticket Series 178.

Nishitha Radhakrishna Pillai felt it was an early morning dream when her father rang to break the news of her ticket 058390 winning Dh10 million at the Big Ticket raffle held in Abu Dhabi International Airport on Wednesday.
Nishitha, the mother of two, is in Texas. She and her husband Rajesh Thampi, both doctors, used to work in Dubai till mid-2016 and left for Texas on research fellowship.
Also read: Property investment options in UAE Nishitha can now consider
This foresighted couple took the risk of leaving a steady job and going for the US scholarship. Fortune certainly favours the brave.
Nishitha is pediatrician and Rajesh a radiologist. This lottery is godsend for the couple managing the education of children on stipend.
"We are super excited," she said from Texas.
It was in fact, Rajesh, who used to buy tickets in Nishitha's name since past few months.
Big Ticket Abu Dhabi, UAE: Your ultimate guide to participating
"He used to buy tickets and never thought we will pocket such a big amount. My father called to break the news as I had given his contact number in India. He had got a call from Big Ticket organisers from Abu Dhabi. First, I couldn't believe but later checked online and confirmed." She said everyone in the family is very thrilled.
The couple is undecided on future plans but is continuing their scholarship for the time.
"We will continue our fellowship and plan to come back to UAE to work afterwards," she added.
Meanwhile, her father Radhakrishnan, who is also a doctor, said he always believed their hard work and dedication will reap rich dividends.
"I, however, never realised it will be this big. I, too, have bought couple of Big Tickets from Abu Dhabi Airport on my return from the US," said the native of Malappuram district in Kerala.
Radhakrishnan keenly follows the Big Ticket developments as he rightly pointed out her daughter as the second winner of Dh10 million. It was in December last that Yatin Raote, another Indian, who won the first-ever Dh10 million prize.
It was last month that Sreeraj Krishnan Kopparembil pocketed Dh7 million to become yet another winner from the 'Gods Own Country'. And it was Kopparembil who picked the winning ticket number on Wednesday. Kopparembil, meanwhile, said his life has remained the same despite winning Dh7 million.
"Money hasn't changed our lifestyle," he said.
Even on Wednesday, there were eight Indians out of the total 10 winners picked on the day, others being one American and a Bangladeshi.
An interesting note being eight winners also had bought their tickets online and only two from the stores at Abu Dhabi Airport, Al Ain Duty Free and Abu Dhabi City Terminal.
Also read: Indian wins Dh7 million jackpot in Abu Dhabi

Congrats! Ms. Nishitha Radhakrishna Pillai , from India, winning ticket 058390. She won AED 10Mil in The Big 10 Big Ticket Series178. pic.twitter.com/VCEiqsqIC6
- Big Ticket Abu Dhabi (@BigTicketAD) April 5, 2017

• Abu Dhabi