A 22 inch-tall Nepali teenager who laid claim to the title of world’s smallest man when he came of age this week says he is looking forward to global fame, international travel – and an arranged marriage with a bride of similar stature.

When Khagendra Thapa Magar, who weighs just 10lbs, turned 18 he submitted an application to the Guinness Book of World Records, hoping to realise his ambition of being recognised as the planet’s shortest man, a title currently held by He Pingping of China, who is 28.7 inches tall.

If Mr Magar’s claim is verified, he could turn out to be the joint shortest man of all time, according to Guinness, equalling the late Gul Mohammed of Delhi, who also stood 22 inches tall and died in 1997.

Mr Magar, who enjoys karate and occasionally performs with a dancing troupe, told The Times that his life in the foothills of the Himalayas in rural Nepal – one of the world’s poorest countries – had already been transformed after word of his size spread. “God is great. He made me small in size but has now given me big name. What else could I have asked for,” he said.

“Suddenly ridicule has turned into praise. Earlier people used to make fun of me. Now they congratulate me,” he said.

The student, who has learning difficulties and says his hobbies include “playing with pebbles” and “worshipping Buddha”, also has his sights set on an arranged marriage – and children.

“I keep on telling my father to find me a small wife,” he said. “Now it’s up to him to find a right match. I would love to have children but have not yet decided about the numbers.”

His father, Rup Bahadur Thapa, said that the family has heard of some girls with growing disorders elsewhere in Nepal, but did not know whether Khagendra’s condition was hereditary. “Let’s hope it’s not, he said, adding: “As far as money thing is concerned, what can I say? If this thing makes us wealthy, it would be good. But if it doesn’t, we don’t have any problem.”

He added that his son, who weighed just 21 ounces at birth, had endured a tough childhood. “He must have been around five yrs old when he first realised he was much smaller than other children,” he said.

“And as he grew older, he felt bad and became quite upset. But we always told him that God definitely had some big plans for him. We always tried to console him saying that size doesn’t matter at all.”