At the Paralympic Judo Grand Prix event in Rio de Janeiro in March 2016, held as a warm up to that year's Summer Paralympics, Salaeva placed second in the women's category. At the 2016 Games themselves in September that year, Salaeva took part in the first day of the competition. She was defeated in the semi-finals of the Judo tournament in the 52 kg class, but went on to win the bronze medal match against Canadian Priscilla Gagné. This was Uzbekistan's most successful day so far at the Paralympics, as the nation had only previously won a single medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England. Alongside Salaeva's bronze medal, two further gold medals were added.