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Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

Nepalese teenager Khagendra Thapa Magar has been named the world's smallest man, after being just two feet tall.

A delegation from Guinness Book of the World Records arrived in Pokhara on Tuesday to award a certificate to Khagendra as the shortest man in the world.

Khagendra was awarded the certificate as the shortest man after a health check up on his 18 birthday, Khagendra Thapa Magar Foundation chairman Min Bahadur Thapa Magar said.

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Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

A team of the GWR officials accompanied Magar to the Phewa City Hospital in his hometown for a routine medical check-up on Wednesday.

Magar's family members, including his mother Dhana Maya and younger brother Mahesh were also present on the occasion.

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

Khagendra, who weighs only 5.5 kilos, snatched the title of the shortest man in the world from 24-year-old Edward "Nino" Hernandez from Columbia, who is two inches taller than him.

"He was born weighing only 600 grams. It was like watching a newly hatched chick fresh from a shell," The Telegraph quoted his mother Dhana Maya Thapa Magar as saying.

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

"I admit that at first I was ashamed of him and would not leave the house, but now I only feel pride and am desperate for him to be named as the tinniest man in the world," she added.

Magar, from Kathmandu, was said to have gained a celebrity status with politicians calling for him to be recognised as the smallest man in the world officially.

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

His father Rupp Abrader Thana Magyar added: "His fame has spread across Nepal and into India. He travels as part of a dancing troupe so that people can see him.

"He does this only a couple of times a year and now we only do this to make people realise that he is going to be the smallest man in the world."

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

Khagendra said: "I can now fulfil my dream of visiting the United States. I can show off my dancing moves and I can show people how good I am at karate."

"I want to travel, go to places like New York, Argentina and meet famous people and go to Hollywood," the Sun quoted him as saying.

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

"With the title I also hope to work on movies as an actor. With this record I will become more famous," Khagendra says.

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

Featured in the new Ripley's Believe It or Not book, "Enter If You Dare!," Magar was recently in New York promoting the book and the fact that he's about to downsize Hernandez for the tiniest man honours.

"Khagendra has been recognised by Ripley's Believe It or Not for years as the smallest person known to exist over the age of 2," said Edward Meyer, Ripley's vice president of exhibits and archives.

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

While doctors haven't determined why Khagendra is so small, a pituitary disorder is suspected as the cause of his short stature.

Khagendra Thapa, the world's smallest man

"It's crazy to think a human being could get any shorter," Guinness Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said, recognising that the shortest man record is about to change by 5 inches.