World’s shortest man turns 18

NEPAL: Khagendra Thapa Magar from Nepal, thought to be the world’s smallest living man who is just 56- centimeter high, has turned 18 years old and now hopes to be officially recognized for his record size.

According to THT Online report, four years ago, Thapa made his application for a Guinness World Record for the smallest man. However, he was rejected because at that time he was just a 14- year-old boy and he was too young to qualify.

But on Wednesday, he turned 18 and became an adult.

He is now set to submit another application. “Now he has turned 18, we will forward the necessary documents to Guinness officials,” Thapa’ s father, Rup Bahadur Thapa Magar said as the family prepared for a birthday celebration.

“I want him to have a good future. I want him to be educated and live in an independent life”, said his father.

“When he was born he was so small he could fit in the palm of your hand. But I am proud to be his father. He has brought fame not just for himself but for his country,” his father added.

According to a website set up by his supporters, Thapa weighed only 600 grams at birth and his hobbies include “playing with pebbles” and “worshipping Buddha.”

The current record for world’s shortest living man is held by He Pingping of China, who is 73 centimeters tall. Enditem. Kathmandu, Thursday, Xinhua