Chandra Bahadur Dangi from Nepal is declared the shortest person in the last week of February, last month.

A tiny man, also from Nepal, Khagendra Thapa Magar, was the shortest person in the world until 7 cm shorter Junrey Balawing from Philippines turned 18 and claimed the title in June last year.

Now, another Nepali has become world’s shortest person ever. The 72 year-old man is also the oldest person claiming to be the shortest person in the world.

New shortest man in the world in a 59.93 cm tall, Junrey Balawing from Philippines. The previous shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar, from Nepal was 7 cm taller.

Junrey Balawing was born on June 12, 1993 in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. Guinness World Records officials declared him the record holder of the world’s shortest living person on Balawing’s 18th birthday celebration on June 12.

Khagendra became shortest man when he turned 18 years-old some 8 month back.

Balawing is the new record holder of shortest living person. But, he missed to break the all-time record made by Gul Mohammed of India, who was 0.571 m tall at the time of his death in in 1997.

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Junrey Balawing – New shortest person in the world

This guy won Guinness World Records in 2005 and didn't know about it till now. He is the only Nepali sportsperson to feature in the Guinness Book of World Records, for clocking the fastest run at the highest altitude, but he learnt about it only eight years after setting the record (source: kantipur daily).

Spectacular views compensate for the
dangers of high altitude running. Source

His record was Published in 2005, the Golden Jubilee year of Guinness Book of World Records. It states the Jumla-based marathoner set a world record timing of 3hr. 16min. 3sec. in the Everest Marathon in 1999. The race began from Gorak Shep at an altitude of 17,100 ft and concluded at Namche Bazar at 11,300 ft.

These are the only pictures I could find of him. I hope to find and update better quality pictures later.

A News quote about Hari.

Hari Bahadur Rokaya’s practice schedule is as tough as his home terrain in Jumla. Like most marathon runners he prefers setting off in the early morning, past the bazar, along the trail down to the Bheri, over the suspension bridge, past paddy terraces glistening in the sun, along the edge of the pine-scented forest. After two hours, this world class athlete is back home in time for a snack of instant noodles.

His training may be ‘low tech’, his shoes frayed, but Hari more than makes up for it with his determination and patriotism. The up-and-down and the thin air at 3,300m is good training. The 41-year-old sets himself a grueling pace: he has reached Rara Lake from Jumla in seven hours, a distance that takes trekkers two days.
From: Nepali Times Issue #153 (11 July 03 – 17 July 03)