Chandra Bahadur Dangi telah dipastikan sebagai pria terpendek yang pernah terdokumentasi setelah para petugas Guinness World Records melakukan pengukuran tinggi badannya pada Minggu, 26 Februari waktu setempat.
Tinggi badan Dangi lebih rendah 5,3 cm daripada Junrey Balawing, pria Filipina yang sebelumnya memegang gelar "pria terpendek di dunia".
"Saya terus kagum karena rekor ini terus terpecahkan," kata Craig Glenday, kepala Guinness World Records dalam pernyataannya seperti dilansir kantor berita AFP, Senin (27/2/2012).
"Di saat Anda berpikir bahwa mustahil untuk mendapatkan rekor yang lebih kecil lagi, Pak Dangi datang dan membuat kita semua takjub," imbuh Glenday.
Bahkan menurut Glenday, dengan usianya yang 72 tahun, Dangi juga merupakan orang tertua yang pernah memecahkan rekor pria terpendek dalam sejarah 57 tahun Guinness World Record.
Dangi yang berat badannya hanya 12 kilogram itu, menarik perhatian dunia sejak tiga pekan lalu. Tepatnya setelah para periset Nepal yang tengah menyelidiki sejarah rakyat Dangi, dipertemukan dengannya.
Dangi pun berharap rekor baru ini akan mengubah keberuntungannya. Sebab selama bertahun-tahun, Dangi kerap dipamerkan oleh sanak keluarganya dalam pertunjukan-pertunjukan untuk menghasilkan uang.
(ita/nrl)
The 72-year-old Nepalese man Chandra Bahadur Dangi stands a proud 22-inches high and is the shortest living man. He made the long journey from his small village to Kathmandu in order to verify his height with the Guinness World Records.
How low? A nurse crouches to the left and an official to the right as Chandra measures up... at just 22 inches tall
Anxious wait: The ruler is placed against the old man's head as officials confirm what he has always believed - that he is the smallest man on the planet
Official: Chandra Bahadur Dangi, a 72-year-old Nepali poses with his certificates after being declared the world's shortest man by Guinness World Records officials at 21.5 inches
Chandra has his hat adjusted as he walks with his far taller nephew Dolakh Dangi on the way to the hospital before being measured
Big appetite: Chandra tucks into a meal of curry and naan bread to celebrate being crowned the world's smallest man
Chairs are no uses to Chandra... he scampers across the table to reach the dishes
Meeting? Chandra's step into the limelight could lead to a Guinness World Records adjudication like the one being undertaken here involving Jyoti Amge, 18, the world's smallest woman. She has become a global celebrity and could well end up meeting Chandra
