He has never held hands with a girl, much less kissed one.

But Mr Gordon Wong, 34, finally made the first move and joined a dating agency in November.

He has been on a few dates so far, all with different people.

"I joined because my mum forced me to do something," said the Ngee Ann Polytechnic graduate who sells mobile devices.

Laughing, the only child, who hopes to get married soon, admitted he needed that kick. "I have never had a girlfriend before. Honestly, it's difficult," he said, adding that he has liked a few girls but never told them.

Lamenting his "nerdy" days at school where he studied electronics, he said he missed many chances. A few girls, he said, asked him out to watch a movie. He declined, saying he did not like watching movies.

In 2003, he liked a girl but never asked her out. She ended up dating a heart surgeon she met.

Mr Wong works about 12 hours a day. He spends his free time doing pull-ups, or hanging out with his army buddies and colleagues.

What he is looking for: a caring, decent-looking Singaporean girl who likes to exercise and does not smoke, or drink excessively.

When asked why he found meeting people difficult, he said: "Maybe I am too choosy. Maybe it's my height. I am only 1.63m. Also, sometimes when I tell a girl I am in sales, they start to look a bit bored."

JESSICA LIM

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