Nyorai mberi kweiyi ndima - Pakutanga kwebasa rake, Markuntsov akakwikwidza pasi rose kuRussia padanho revechidiki naValentina Razskazova. Akabudirira zvikuru naYuko Kawaguchi, achikwikwidza nokuda kweJapan. Vakabatana muna 1999 uye ndivo vaviri vekutanga kumiririra Japan kuti vawane menduru paISU Championship, izvo zvavakaita pavakakunda menduru yesirivheri pa2001 World Junior Championships
. Ndivo vakundi vomunyika yeJapan muna 2002 na2003. Nzvimbo yavo yepamusoro pane ISU Senior Championship yaive yechinomwe pa2003 Four Continents. Vakadzidziswa naTamara Moskvina. Vakagumisa kudyidzana kwavo mushure megore ra2002-2003.