13-year-old wins star prize in Chinese festival lottery |24 February 2014

Thirteen-year-old Xialong is the owner of a brand new Suzuki Ritz after winning the star prize of the lottery organised to mark the Chinese New Year on January 31, which also coincided with the first ever Seychelles-China Day.
“I never thought that I would win the car, but I am going to keep it and give it to my mum as a gift,” said a delighted Xialong after receiving her car keys at the Chinese Pagoda in Victoria yesterday during a prize-giving ceremony organised by the Seychelles Chinese Association.
The aim of the lottery was to raise funds to build a new Pagoda and Charlie Ng Ping Chu, the chairperson for the Seychelles Chinese Association, said they are satisfied with the sale of tickets.
“We printed 30,000 tickets and we sold 23,000 tickets. Taking into account the expenses we incurred, we made above R300,000 profit,” Mr Ng Ping Chu said.

“We are waiting on the elders for their decision on how to build the Pagoda, after which construction work will start, which will be in a month or two,” he added.

The star prize of the lottery has been sponsored by Daniel Kim Koon, the managing director of Kim Koon Motors.

During the prize-giving ceremony Mr Kim Koon confirmed his support again for the next lottery.

“For the association I am ready to help in any way that I can. My father was once the chairperson of the association and I want to keep our tradition and our Chinese culture alive so that the young generation can appreciate it like we did,” Mr Kim Koon said.
Mr Ng Ping Chu took the opportunity to thank all its sponsors and everyone who bought a ticket.

The lottery had 13 prizes in total and the other winners were also present to collect theirs. The following is the list of all the winners:

Star prize:     Xialong             Suzuki Ritz

1st prize     Chris Amelie         Return ticket to Hong Kong and R5000 cash

2nd prize     Cindy Woodcock     42-inch flat screen television

3rd prize     Misael Valmona     Weekend for two at the Berjaya Hotel  

4th prize    Gerry Uranie         Toshiba laptop

5th prize     Armand Medor         R5,000

6th prize     Varsani. R         Four-plate gas oven

7th prize     Denys Boudane C    Cable TV and Internet connection

8th prize     Marc Ventigadoo     Samsung Bluray DVD

9th prize     U. Belle         Water dispenser machine

10th prize     Pauline Ferrari         Semi auto washing machine

11th prize     Castel Isaac         Computer table  

12th prize     Michel Isidore         Gift voucher for R1,500