◎魏國金

Khagendra Thapa Magar from Nepal, thought to be the world’s smallest living man at just 56 centimetres, has turned 18 and now hopes to be officially recognised for his record size.

以56公分身高而被認為是當今世界最矮男子的尼泊爾人卡詹德拉．塔巴．馬加爾已18歲了，現在他希望這項紀錄能獲正式承認。

Thapa had his application for a Guinness World Record for the smallest man rejected because at just 14 he was too young to qualify. But on Wednesday he started adulthood and is now set to submit another application.

塔巴曾申請列為金氏世界紀錄的全球最矮男子，但因他僅14歲太年輕，不獲認證資格而遭回絕。不過週三他開始步入成年，現在即將提出另一份申請。

"Now he has turned 18, we will forward the necessary documents to Guinness officials," Thapa’s father said.

「現在他已經18歲了，我們會向金氏世界紀錄的人員遞交必要的文件，」塔巴的父親說。

"When he was born he was so small he could fit in the palm of your hand. But I am proud to be his father. He has brought fame not just for himself but for his country." he said.

「當他出生時，他小到可能可以放在你的手掌上，但我以身為他的父親為榮。他不僅為他個人，也為他的國家帶來名氣。」他說。

According to a website set up by his supporters, Thapa weighed only 600 grams at birth and his hobbies include "playing with pebbles" and "worshipping Buddha."

根據支持者設立的網站指出，塔巴出生時僅重600公克，而他的興趣包括「玩小石頭」與「拜佛」。

The Guinness Book of Records website lists the late Gul Mohammed of New Delhi as the shortest adult human being ever, at 55.9 centimetres. The current record for world’s shortest living man is held by He Pingping of China, who is 73 centimetres tall.

金氏世界紀錄大全網站將已故的新德里人蓋默哈梅列為史上最矮的成人，他高55.9公分。當今世界最矮男子是由中國的何平平所保持，他73公分高。

新聞辭典

come of age︰片語，成年、滿法定年齡，也有成熟、發達之意。例句︰Blacks have come of age.（黑人的力量已壯大成熟了。）

be set to︰即將發生（後接動詞），例句︰Electricity prices are set to go up again.（電價即將再漲。）

forward︰動詞，遞送、轉交。例句︰The letter was forwarded from a previous address.（這封信是從之前的住址轉來的。）

自由時報-981021

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