The world's shortest man, Chandra Bahadur
Dangi, 72, poses with family members after being awarded the Guinness
World Records title in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photograph: Navesh
Chitrakar/Reuters
Nepal is not only home to the world's highest peak but the world's shortest man.
A Guinness World Records team measured Chandra Bahadur Dangi at 54.6cm (21.5in), declaring the 72 year-old shorter than previous title holder Junrey Balawing, from the Philippines, who stood at 59.7cm (23.5in) at the age of 18 last year.
"The good news is that Chandra Bahadur Dangi is the world's shortest living man," Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday told reporters after measurements were taken.
"If he is really 72 years old he is the oldest person to be awarded the shortest-man record," Glenday said, adding that Dangi was also the shortest person ever measured by Guinness World Records.
Dangi, who lives in a remote part of rural Nepal, said he had never heard of Mount Everest and was unaware of the world record title before a timber merchant visited his village last month and decided to measure him.
His diminutive size has since made him a celebrity in the impoverished nation of 26.6 million people. Last week he took a plane for the first time from his village, Rimkholi, 167 miles west of Kathmandu, to meet Guinness World Records officials in the capital.
"I am good. I feel happy," Dangi said holding two framed certificates. "I want to travel around the world and spread the name of my country."
Dangi, whose parents died when he was still in his teens, lives with his brother and says he has no desire to marry.
His family has no idea when he stopped growing as many Nepali villages still lack basic health care. Dangi has never seen a doctor in his life. Five of his brothers and two sisters are of normal size.
Before Balawing, who was declared the shortest man in the world in June 2011, another Nepali man, Khagnedra Thapa Magar, held the title, standing at 67cm (26.4in) tall.
A Guinness World Records team measured Chandra Bahadur Dangi at 54.6cm (21.5in), declaring the 72 year-old shorter than previous title holder Junrey Balawing, from the Philippines, who stood at 59.7cm (23.5in) at the age of 18 last year.
"The good news is that Chandra Bahadur Dangi is the world's shortest living man," Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday told reporters after measurements were taken.
"If he is really 72 years old he is the oldest person to be awarded the shortest-man record," Glenday said, adding that Dangi was also the shortest person ever measured by Guinness World Records.
Dangi, who lives in a remote part of rural Nepal, said he had never heard of Mount Everest and was unaware of the world record title before a timber merchant visited his village last month and decided to measure him.
His diminutive size has since made him a celebrity in the impoverished nation of 26.6 million people. Last week he took a plane for the first time from his village, Rimkholi, 167 miles west of Kathmandu, to meet Guinness World Records officials in the capital.
"I am good. I feel happy," Dangi said holding two framed certificates. "I want to travel around the world and spread the name of my country."
Dangi, whose parents died when he was still in his teens, lives with his brother and says he has no desire to marry.
His family has no idea when he stopped growing as many Nepali villages still lack basic health care. Dangi has never seen a doctor in his life. Five of his brothers and two sisters are of normal size.
Before Balawing, who was declared the shortest man in the world in June 2011, another Nepali man, Khagnedra Thapa Magar, held the title, standing at 67cm (26.4in) tall.
No comments:
Post a Comment