Nepalese teen becomes world's smallest man after celebrating 18th b'day

Melbourne, Oct 14 (ANI): A Nepalese teenager-whose tiny stature has made him a celebrity in his homeland-has entered the record books as the world's shortest man, as he celebrated his 18th birthday.

Khagendra Thapa Magar, who stands just 65.5cm tall and weighs 5.5 kilos, takes over from 24-year-old Edward 'Nino' Hernandez from Colombia, who is almost two inches taller, reports News.com.au.

A team of adjudicators from the Guinness World Records met Magar and conducted exhaustive checks on his claim to the record in the picturesque Himalayan town of Pokhara in central Nepal, near the village where he grew up.

"An 18-year-old from Nepal has today been named the new world's shortest man by Guinness World Records adjudicators who flew to the country to measure him," the London-based organisation said in a statement.

"At two feet 1.8 inches, Khagendra Thapa Magar has been officially recognised as the shortest man in the world, snatching the title from 24-year-old Edward 'Nino' Hernandez from Colombia who has held the title for just five weeks," said the statement.

His family had previously laid claim to the record for Magar, but the teenager needed to reach his 18th birthday before being officially recognised as the smallest man.

"Khagendra may be small, but his size has earned him a big name," said father Rup Bahadur Thapa Magar.

"People are always so nice to him. They come up and ask to have their photograph taken with him. It makes us feel that he is loved, and he likes it too. Khagendra is a true blessing from God.

"Sometimes it made us sad when he was growing up because we thought he would never be able to do normal things like ride a bike or drive a car, but now he is so popular, and that has made us happy," he added.

The teenager said he wanted a remote-controlled car for his birthday and that he would rely on his future wife for transport.

"I'm hoping to marry in two years' time, when I am 20. I'll sit in my wife's handbag and travel the world with her," he said. (ANI)