Nepalese Man, 72, Hopes to Be Named World’s Shortest

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Binod Joshi / AP

Chandra Bahadur Dangi, 72, who says he's only 22 inches tall, arrives at the airport in Katmandu, Nepal, on Feb. 22, 2012, hoping to prove to Guinness World Records officials he's the world's shortest man.

A 72-year-old Nepalese man is on a mission to snag the Guinness World Record for shortest man on Earth.

Chandra Bahadur Dangi, of western Nepal, claims to be just 22 inches tall, which is an inch and a half shorter than the current record holder, the Associated Press reports. Junrey Balawing of the Philippines was crowned world’s shortest on his 18th birthday last June. But now, Dangi hopes to prove the title belongs to him.

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Dangi will meet this week with Guinness officials in the capital city of Katmandu, according to his nephew, Dolak Dangi. Officials will measure him and determine if he indeed deserves the title. Before Balawing, the world’s shortest man was Khagendra Thapa Magar, another Nepalese man, who stood at 26.4 inches.

Dangi lives in Rhimkholi village, about 250 miles west of Katmandu, with one of his brothers and his family, CBS reports. Dangi’s five brothers are all of average height. His family members said they’re not sure when he stopped growing, and he’s never visited a doctor. Dangi’s height had gone unnoticed until a forest contractor working in Dangi’s remote village met him and informed Nepalese media of his striking stature.

Dangi has left his hometown for the first time in his life and is currently in Katmandu, waiting for his official measurement.

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