More Nepalis eying Guinness world records
July 21, 2009 9:59 pm
By Hati Naxal
KATHMANDU, July 22 — A 24-year-old Nepali youth has become the latest record-maker from his country to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records even as several more of his countrymen are gearing up to join him.
Dipak Sharma Bajgain became the world's biggest reading genius after reading non-stop for 121 hours and breaking the record of the previous holder, Adrian Hilton of England.
Bajgain's feat has been confirmed by the Guinness, private Nepali television station Avenue TV reported Tuesday.
The marathon reading feat was undertaken by Bajgain last year.
A Kathmandu-based reading club, The Readers' Corner, was impressed by his stamina and endurance and decided to provide him with a platform.
In September 2008, the club organized a public reading ceremony in Tundikhel, a public ground in Kathmandu where rallies are held.
In a tent watched over by eight judges and health workers and recorded by the television station, Bajgain read out non-stop for nearly six days, totaling 121 hours.
He submitted his documents to the world records body for recognition and Guinness emailed him to say he now holds the record,the television station said.
Bajgain could have more company in the Guinness from his country-men in near future with more and more Nepalis eying world records.
The most sensational claimant of them all is Khagendra Thapa Magar, a 17-year-old from Baglung district who hopes to become the world's shortest person in October.
Thapa Magar is 51 cm high, shorter than the world record holder, He Ping Ping of China (74.61 cm).
However, though he approached Guinness earlier, the Nepali teen was told the claim would have to be made after he turns 18.
Known as the "Little Buddha" of Nepal, Thapa Magar turns 18 in October when he hopes to be officially crowned the world's shortest person.
In September, a former foreign minister of Nepal, Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay, plans to summit Mt. Qomolangma (also known as Mt. Everest), the highest peak in the world, and become the oldest man to have achieved the feat.
Upadhyay is 80 while the world record holder, according to Guinness, was a Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura, who summitted the 8,844.43-meter peak last year at the age of 75.
A dispute arose over Miura's record with a Nepali climber, who also conquered the peak the same year, saying that the honor should be his.
Min Bahadur Sherchan, who was 77 when he scaled the peak, initially was not recognized because he had not submitted sufficient documentary evidence.
However, Nepal's mountaineering associations say the lapse has been corrected and he will soon replace the Japanese. (PNA/Xinhua) ALM/ebp
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