Sabina Altynbekova celebrates first victory in Kazakhstan in six years

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s most famous volleyball player, Sabina Altynbekova, marked her debut for Astana with a victory over the Mangystau regional team at the Kazakhstan Cup in Oral.

Astana claimed a confident 3:1 win (20:25, 25:18, 25:19, 25:18), giving Altynbekova her first triumph on home soil since 2019, when she last played in Kazakhstan for VC Almaty.

Star returns home

Altynbekova, who rose to international fame after the 2014 Asian Junior Championship, has played abroad for clubs in Japan (GSS Sunbeams), Italy (VolAlto Caserta), the UAE (Al-Wasl), and most recently Indonesia’s Yogya Falcons. Last year, she returned to Kazakhstan after her team failed to reach the playoffs.

In late August 2025, Altynbekova officially signed with Astana, confirming her decision to continue her career at home.

The 28-year-old athlete has long been a media sensation, frequently appearing in global rankings of the most admired sportswomen. Her comeback is expected to boost interest in domestic volleyball.