Dubai-Duty-Free-Tennis-Championships-winner-Ugo-Humbert-with-Dubai-Duty-Free-officials-conducted-the-draw-for-Dubai-Duty-Free-Millennium-Millionaire-Series--452-1709454364990
French tennis player Ugo Humbert (2nd R), showing the million-dollar ticket at the DDF draw, held after he won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Men’s final on Saturday night Image Credit: Supplied

Dubai: An Indian exapt in Abu Dhabi on Saturday won $1 million in the latest Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw that took place after the prize presentation ceremony of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Men’s final.

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The winning ticket was drawn by French No. 5 tennis player and champion of the tournament, Ugo Humbert, who claimed his maiden Dubai title after defeating Alexander Bublik in the finals.

Sunil Nayyar, a 60-year-old Indian national based in Abu Dhabi, became the latest dollar-millionaire in Millennium Millionaire Series 452 with ticket 0971, which he bought online on February 21.

A resident of Abu Dhabi for 39 years now and a regular participant in Dubai Duty Free’s promotion for 15 years, Nayyar is a father of one and works as a senior consultant for an insurance company.

“I’ve been buying tickets to your [DDF] promotion for a long time and never lose hope that one day I will win, and finally it happened,” Nayyar said.

Spending plans

When asked about his initial plans with his win, he replied: “Definitely it will go to my son’s education as he is currently taking up his degree in aerospace in the UK and, of course, saving up for my retirement soon.”

Nayyar, who hails from Delhi in India, is the 225th Indian national to have won $1 million since the start of the Millennium Millionaire promotion in 1999. Indian nationals make up the highest number of Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire ticket buyers.

Ugo Humbert was accompanied at the Millennium Millionaire draw by Dubai Duty Free Senior COO Ramesh Cidambi and Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President for Marketing.

Tickets for the Finest Surprise and Millennium Millionaire promotion were on sale at Dubai Duty Free counters at the Tennis Village throughout the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which was held from February 18 to March 2.