Sashi Cheliah

{{short description|Singaporean-born Australian cook|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Sashi Cheliah

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| birth_name = Sashikumar Cheliah

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|6|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Singapore

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| nationality = Australian

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| alma_mater = ITE College, Yishun

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| predecessor = Diana Chan

| successor = Larissa Takchi

| spouse = {{marriage|Rabicca Vijayan|1997}}

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Sashikumar Cheliah (born 10 June 1979) is a Singaporean-born Australian cook. He was a contestant on the tenth series of MasterChef Australia in 2018, eventually winning the show.

Cheliah was born and raised in Singapore where he attended Swiss Cottage Secondary School and ITE College, Yishun. He is the eldest of seven children.{{cite web |title=Sashi Cheliah |url=https://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/masterchef/contestants/sashi-cheliah |website=tenplay |accessdate=2 August 2018}} For 12 years, Cheliah worked for the Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) unit of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), where he trained in tactics, rescue operations, counter terrorism, kidnappings and high-profile protection in the riot police.{{cite web |title=9 Sashi Cheliah Facts As Singapore Celebrates His MasterChef Australia Victory |url=https://mustsharenews.com/sashi-cheliah-masterchef/ |website=mustsharenews.com |date=August 2018 |accessdate=2 August 2018}} Cheliah is married to Rabicca Vijayan, who works as a nurse. They have two sons.{{cite news | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/singapore-born-sashi-cheliah-crowned-masterchef-australia-champion | title=Singapore-born Sashi Cheliah crowned MasterChef Australia champion | accessdate=6 September 2018}} The family moved to Adelaide in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.star2.com/food/2018/08/01/singapore-born-prison-officer-wins-10th-season-masterchef-australia/|title=Singapore-Born Home Cooks Wins MasterChef Australia S10 - Star2.com|date=1 August 2018|website=star2.com|accessdate=6 September 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906124954/https://www.star2.com/food/2018/08/01/singapore-born-prison-officer-wins-10th-season-masterchef-australia/|url-status=dead}}

Cheliah's interest in food began by watching his mother, who owned a café, and his aunties prepare family meals. His interest in cooking grew further after he moved to Australia. Cheliah was selected in the Top 24 to contest MasterChef Australia in 2018. He reached the finale on 31 July, which he won with a record 93 points out of 100.{{cite news |title=Highest score ever: Sashi Cheliah crowned 2018 MasterChef winner |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/highest-score-ever-sashi-cheliah-crowned-2018-masterchef-winner-20180731-p4zun7.html |accessdate=6 September 2018 |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald}} In 2022, Cheliah returned to compete on the show's fourteenth season, which featured a mix of returning contestants and new contenders. He finished in 19th place.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-11 |title=Chef Sashi Cheliah, MasterChef Australia 2018 winner, on how cooking has changed his life in more ways than one |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/chef-sashi-cheliah-masterchef-australia-2018-winner-on-how-cooking-has-changed-his-life-in-more-ways-than-one-8019175/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Cheliah started a pop-up restaurant named Gaja by Sashi in the Melbourne CBD, serving Singaporean dishes.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/news/masterchef-winner-sashi-cheliah-is-opening-a-pop-up-restaurant-081518|title=MasterChef winner Sashi Cheliah is opening a pop-up restaurant|website=timeout.com|date=15 August 2018 |accessdate=4 October 2018}} In November 2019, Cheliah opened his restaurant Gaja in his home town of Adelaide.{{Cite web|url=https://citymag.indaily.com.au/habits/plate-and-cup/gaja-by-sashi-pirie-street-adelaide/|title=Gaja by Sashi set to open on Pirie Street|date=29 October 2019|website=CityMag}}