Chess is a sport, one can play and achieve success as long as he/she is active. Odisha International Master Sekhar Chandra Sahu justified this when he won one gold and one silver medal in the Commonwealth Chess Championship which was held in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka from 28 August to 5 September 2024.

He claimed the gold in the veteran category (Senior 60+), scoring five points from nine rounds with four wins, two draws and three defeats. But overall, Sahu finished 26th among 69 players from five countries. He secured the bronze medal in the blitz competition.

Sahu is the first International Master (IM) of Odisha and at present serves as the chief coach in chess at KIIT & KISS, Bhubaneswar. The 1955 born player-turned coach is also a FIDE Senior Trainer.