 Ramba uchiverenga ndima ino - Popkova akatanga kukwikwidza padanho repamusoro muna 1965: akahwina mukombe wake wekutanga weSoviet gore iro, achimhanya anopfuura mamita mazana maviri, uye akaisa wechitatu muchiitiko ichi pa1965 European Cup. Akazvisimbisa semutambi wepamusoro wechikadzi weSoviet Union gore rakatevera nekuhwina zita renyika remukati mumamita mazana mana ndokuzotora 100200 m kaviri pamutambo wenyika wekunze. Pa1966 European Athletics Championships akatora menduru yebronze pamamita mazana maviri achipedzisa kumashure kwevaPoland vaviri Irena Kirszenstein naEwa Kłobukowska uye akawana wechipiri wemakwikwi nechikwata cheSoviet 4 × 100 metres relay chakapedza chechitatu. 