GEORGE TOWN: Lim Thai Li had the surprise of his life when he won a brand new Honda Jazz in the 2019 Penang Bridge International Marathon lucky draw here, today.
The 35-year-old engineer, who is weeks from getting married, was participating in the marathon for the first time with his friends.
When Lim was announced as winner, he bounded onto the stage and appeared ecstatic as he received a mock car key from Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
"First time lucky for me, I guess," Lim said at the race’s finish line near the Queensbay Mall here.
Lim, who will be tying the knot on Dec 18, does not own a car – so the win is especially meaningful for him. He said he had planned to buy a vehicle only after his wedding.
"I haven’t told my fiancée about this yet. I am pretty sure she will be really excited when she sees this," he added.
Lim participated in the full marathon category and finished it in 6 hours, 10 minutes and 17 seconds.
He was among 25,000 plus runners who joined this year's marathon.
Another lucky draw winner was 14-year-old Zens Viravud Lai Davis, who won a Perodua Axia. (The teen is too young to drive it, though).