22-inch Nepalese man says he’s all grown up and ready for title of world’s shortest person
By APThursday, October 15, 2009
22-inch Nepal man says he’s grown into record book
KATMANDU, Nepal — Now that he’s all grown up, 18-year-old Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal wants the world to know just how tiny he is.
Magar, who stands 22 inches (56 centimeters) tall, has been waiting four years for his chance to take the title of the world’s shortest person. On Thursday, a day after his birthday and becoming an adult, supporters mailed an application package to Guinness World Record in London seeking to stake his place in the record book.
Magar’s family initially filed a claim when he was just 14 years old but it was rejected since he was not an adult and there was a chance he might grow, said Min Bahadur Ranamagar of the Khagendra Thapa Magar Foundation.
Ranamagar said it was not clear how long the certification process would take. When Magar applied four years ago, Guinness officials said he would need to be examined by a doctor to confirm he had stopped growing.
The current record is held by 21-year-old He Pingping of China, who is 29 inches (73 centimeters).
