Rupandehi, September 3 :

Before registering his name in two different categories— the world’s shortest man and who weighs the least — in the Guinness Book of World Records, the London-based Office of the Guinness Book of World Records has invited Nepal’s Khagendra Thapamagar to London for a final examination.

Talking to this daily today, Min Bahadur Rana, chairman of the Khagendra Thapamagar Academy, said: “The Academy received the letter of the Guinness office on September 1.”

According to the letter, the office has accepted the Nepali doctor’s report about Khagendra’s height and weight. Demanding Khagendra’s birth certificate, the office invited him to London for examination, Rana said.

“The birth certificate will be sent to London today. Before this, a report on his height and weight, prepared by Dr Kalu Sharma, the chief medical superintendent in Gandaki regional hospital, Pokhara was sent,” Rana said.

Asking for financial support from the government to take Khagendra to London, Rana said: “We would be encouraged as the government provided a two-way fare, including other essential expenses of Khagendra, his parents, a representative of the Academy and an interpreter.”

According to the Academy, the earlier record-holder was Gul Mohammed of India, who was 22.5 inches tall and died in 1997 at the age of 36, the academy said.

Khagendra contested for the title with Jordan’s Yoyansvans, who is 25.5 inches tall and weighed 10 kg. The academy is searching for more information about Yoyansvans, Rana said.