High-achievement sports require athletes to train from an early age for better development opportunities.

The centre selects athletes mainly based on their performance in local public competitions or from schools right at the beginning of each academic year. Those with talents are recruited from 8 or, in some cases, from 11 to 13 years old.

The centre is now provide care and training for talented, young and provincial teams, of which the young teams gather 95 athletes in such sports as taekwondo, pencak silat, Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, tennis, women's football, athletics, cycling, and weightlifting.

The athletes undergo training throughout the week under the close guidance of coaches. The young teams serve as incubators for high-achievement sports athletes and those competing in big tournaments, towards becoming first-tier national athletes, and members of provincial and national teams. 

Over the past years, the young teams have nurtured numerous sport talents for both the province and the nation. In 2022, Son La boasted 50 nationally ranked athletes, 15 masters, and 35 first-tier athletes who won three gold medals at SEA Games 31; one gold and one silver at the World Pencak Silat Championship; and one gold at the Asian Championship.

Notable among them are the “shining stars” who have continuously brought home glory at national, regional, and international tournaments, such as Quang Thi Thu Nghia in Pencak Silat and Bac Thi Khiem in Taekwondo.

Over the past seven months, the province’s young teams participated in 12 national-level competitions, securing 25 gold, 13 silver and 19 bronze medals./.