Krishnakumar Syamala Ravindran won Dh20 million. The Bahrain-based Indian expat secured the top prize in Big Ticket Abu Dhabi’s June live draw. Ravindran said his first priority is not luxury. He wants to help a longtime friend who has been in a coma for three months after falling down a staircase in Bahrain.
Priority is medical care. The friend is originally from Karnataka. He has been in a medical centre in Bahrain since the accident. He is still in a medical centre in Bahrain. Its been three months now. I haven't thought about buying anything for myself yet. My first thought was about him.
Ravindran hopes to use part of the windfall to transfer his friend to India for further treatment near his family. "I want to take him to India and give him proper treatment," he said.
The winning moment
The winning ticket number was 339729. Organisers could not reach Ravindran initially during the live draw because his Bahrain phone was switched off. He was in the UAE at the time without roaming on his Bahrain number. The news eventually reached him via WhatsApp on his Indian number. "Yes they attempted to call me on my Bahrain number, but the phone was switched off. I am in the UAE now and the number is not on roaming," he explained.
Ravindran had travelled to Abu Dhabi with his family on May 27 and bought the ticket during that visit. A long-time player, Ravindran has been playing regularly since 2019. He typically buys two or three tickets every month, sometimes alone and sometimes with colleagues. "I have been purchasing 2 to 3 tickets every month. Sometimes, my friends and colleagues take part and at times I participate alone," he said.
Even after the win, he said he had not planned anything yet and was completely surprised.
Shared prize
This time, Ravindran purchased the winning ticket with his sister. The prize money will be shared equally between them. Despite the jackpot, his focus remains on his friend's recovery.
Frequently asked questions
- Who won the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi June live draw? The June live draw was won by Krishnakumar Syamala Ravindran, a Bahrain‑based Indian expatriate.
- How much did the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi winner receive? Ravindran’s winning ticket earned him Dh 20 million, the top prize for the June draw.
- What does the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi winner plan to do with part of his prize? He intends to use a portion of the Dh 20 million to transfer a long‑time friend, who is in a coma after a stair‑fall in Bahrain, to India for further medical treatment near his family.
- Who will share the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi prize with the winner? Ravindran bought the winning ticket together with his sister, so the prize money will be split equally between them.
- How did the winner learn that he had won the jackpot? Organisers tried calling his Bahrain phone, which was switched off; the news reached him later via WhatsApp on his Indian number while he was in the UAE.
- Where is the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi winner originally from? Ravindran is an Indian expatriate originally from Karnataka, currently residing in Bahrain.
