There is going to be a lot of broken hearts in Kazakhstan as the starlet of the volleyball scene, Sabina Altynbekova, is set to fly the nest and ply her trade in Japan, Kazinform reports.
In all the media clamor surrounding Sabina Altynbekova, it is sometimes difficult to remember that is was volleyball that first thrust her into the spotlight. Now the 18-year-old poster girl of Kazakhstani sport is to play for GSS Sunbeams of the V.Challenge Ligue, the second tier of pro volleyball in Japan.
Altynbekova rose to prominence last year while representing Kazakhstan at the Asian Under-19 Championships in Taiwan. Local media went crazy for her looks, likening her to a character from anime, the Japanese take on animation that is hugely popular across Southeast Asia.
The media interest sparked a social networking frenzy across the region. YouTube videos of Altynbekova went viral and she inspired numerous Facebook groups. Her Instagram account boasts nearly 500,000 followers.
Such is her fame in Kazakhstan, and Asia in general, that she was wheeled out as part of Almaty’s bid to win the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the end of July. But her good looks were not enough to sway the delegates as Almaty narrowly lost out to Beijing in the race.
Paul Bartlett is a journalist based in Almaty.
Sign up for Eurasianet's free weekly newsletter. Support Eurasianet: Help keep our journalism open to all, and influenced by none.