72-year-old Nepali man crowned as world's shortest by Guinness

A 72-year-old Nepali man today entered the Guinness book of World Records as the shortest adult ever, standing at 54.6 centimetres, just the size of a toddler.

The Guinness World Records (GWR) recognised Chandra Bahadur Dangi, who measures 54.6 centimetres, as the world's shortest adult ever measured.

After carrying out measurements here in Kathmandu, a team of GWR led by its Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday confirmed Dangi, who claims to be 72 years old and hails from Dang of western Nepal, as the world's shortest man, and crowned him the title.

Dangi, who weighs 12 kilogrammes, was brought to the attention of the world only three weeks ago after Nepali researchers looking into the history of the Dangi people were introduced to him.

"It feels very good, I'm very happy," Dangi told reporters adding that "I will work on promoting my country all over the world."

Junrey Balawing of the Philippines, who measures 59.9 centimetres held the record for world's shortest man till now.

Dangi is 5.3 centimetres shorter than Balawing, who was crowned world's shortest man on his 18th birthday last June.

The Filipino had taken over the title from Nepal's Khagendra Thapa Magar, who measures 67 centimetres.

Dangi, therefore has brought the title back to Nepal as the GWR team confirmed him as the shortest in the world.

According to the GWR, the confirmed measurement also makes Dangi the shortest adult human to ever have their height verified by Guinness World Records, beating a benchmark set by Gul Mohammed from India who measured 57 centimetres. 

The GWR conducted Dangi's official measurement at the CIWEC Clinic Travel Medicine Centre in Lainchaur.

"In accordance with Guinness World Records guidelines, Chandra was measured three times in 24 hours," the GWR said.

The Guiness officials had flown to Kathmandu from London for the official measurements.

"I'm continually amazed that this record keeps getting broken. Just when you think it's impossible for the record to get any smaller, Mr Dangi comes along and astonishes us all by being the shortest person ever measured," Glenday has been quoted as saying by the Guiness World records website.

"What I find equally remarkable is his age, if he really is 72, he is by far the oldest person to be awarded the shortest-man record in Guinness World Record's 57-year history," he was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times.