10.10.2026 11:50
Young volleyball player Meryem Cabbaroğlu, who plays for the Bodrum's Pearls team, attracted great attention with a photo taken before the match. The athlete from Ankara, stating that the interest that started in Turkey also spread abroad, said that she shared the photo while eating chicken pilaf with her friends. Cabbaroğlu, whose mother is Russian and father is from Yozgat, explained that one of her biggest dreams is to play for the Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team.
Meryem Cabbaroğlu, who plays as a libero for the Bodrum's Pearls team, attracted intense attention after she posted her photo taken in her team uniform before the Karşıyaka match played on October 3. While the young volleyball player's photo quickly reached large audiences, the interest that started in Turkey also spread abroad.
"I SHARED THE PHOTO WHILE EATING CHICKEN PILAF"
Describing her astonishment, Cabbaroğlu said she did not think her photo would receive so much attention. The young athlete said, "I was not expecting such a thing, I was surprised. Everything can spread on social media in an instant. Good and bad comments can also come. So I tried not to read or look. Some of my family and friends sent me the photo. I shared this photo while eating chicken pilaf with my friend. No one was expecting such a thing."
HER MOTHER IS RUSSIAN, HER FATHER IS FROM YOZGAT
Speaking also about her family and hometown, Meryem Cabbaroğlu stated that she was born and raised in Ankara. Cabbaroğlu said, "When I say this, people are usually surprised. My mother is Russian, my father is from Yozgat. I am a born-and-raised Ankara native. I can say that I feel like I am from Ankara."
HER BIGGEST DREAM IS THE NATIONAL TEAM
Stating that she did not want to act hastily in her volleyball career, the young athlete said that her first goal was to have a successful and injury-free season with her team. Cabbaroğlu, who expressed that wearing the jersey of the Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team is one of her dreams, said, "All of our players in the national team are examples. Because they represent Turkish women around the world very well. Every athlete's dream is to wear the national team jersey."
Emphasizing that the achievements of female athletes are important for young girls, Cabbaroğlu expressed that she also wanted to be an example for new generations.