Mumbai: Gul Panag, who is also a member of the Commonwealth Games sub-committee feels that lack of proper infrastructure and dearth of women members on selection boards have discouraged the fairer sex from taking up sports as a career in India.

“There is no proper infrastructure support.. not much encouragement and also there are no women in the Federation, be it hockey or wrestling or any other.. which chooses women athletes. This itself shows where we stand,” Gul told reporters.

On India`s prospects in CWG 2010, the 31-year-old actress, who has been a long distance runner and swimmer said, “I see Australia, UK and South Africa in the forefront of the Games as they have proper infrastructure support. I think India lacks it.”

Also, I think Indian Olympic Association (IOC) must encourage young girls from smaller towns and cities to take up sports. We must bring in school and college girls, Gul said.

When asked why she did not take up sports more seriously, Gul said, “In India, there is only limited potential for an athlete. I never took it up because I did not see a future in that. Only few like Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal and others have made it in sports.”

The former beauty queen will be seen in Subhash Ghai`s up-coming film `Hello Darling`, a comedy that highlights the issue of sexual harassment at work place.

When asked if she ever had any such personal experience Gul said, “I think there are some people who can`t handle propositions and some people who can. And I think I belong to the latter category.”

Directed by debutant Manoj Tiwari, the film releases on August 27 and stars Eesha Narang, Celina Jaitley and Javed Jaffery.